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err
THE GENERAL
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY,
A NEW EDITION.
VOL. XXIX.
Printed by Nichols, Son, and Bentley»
Ked lion Passagei Fleet Street, London*
THE GENERAL
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY
CONTAINING _J: ^ —
AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL ACCOUNT
O.F THB
LIVES AND WRITINGS
/ OF THE
MOST EMINENT PERSON^
IN EVERY NATION;
PARTICULARLY THE BRITISH AND IRISHi
FROM THE EARLIESTS ACCOUNT TO THE PRESENT TIME.
A NEW EDITION,
. REVISED AND ENLARGED BY
ALEXANDER CHALMERS, E; S. A.
VOL. XXIX.
LONDONt
PRIKTEO FOR J. NICHOLS AND SON ; F. C. AND J. RIVINOTON | T. PAYNE ;
OTRIDGB AND SON; O. AND W. NICOL ; O. WILKIE ; J. WALKER; W.
LOWNDES; T. EGERTON; LACRINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.; J.' CARPENTER |
LONGMAN, HtJRST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN; CADBLL AND DA VIES; LAW
AND WHITTAKER ; J. BOOKER ; J. CUTHELL ; CLARKE AND SONS ; J. AND
A. ARCH; J. HARRIS; BLACK, PARBURY, AND ALLEN ; J. BLACK; J. BOOTH;
J. MAWMAN; GALE AND FENNER; R. H. EVANS; J. HATCHARD ; J. MURRAY |
BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AMD JOY; B. BENTLEY ; OGLE AND CO.; W. GINGER;
RODWELL AMD MARTIN; P. WRIGHT; J. DBIOHTON AND SON, CAMBRIDQX|
CONSTAB]LB AND CO. EDINBURGH; AND WILSON ANp SON, YORK.
1816.
A
«>
A NEW AND GENERAL
BIOGEAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
OUAREZ (FfiANCis)y A Spanish Jesuit, born at Grenada,
Jan. 5, £548, was a professor of reputation at Alcala, at
Salamanca, and at Rome. He was afterwards invited
to Coimbra in Portugal, where he became the princi-
pal professor of divinity. He is an author of the most
voluminous kind: his works extended to twenty -three
volumes, in folio ; and so extraordinary was his memory,
that if any passage was cited from them, he could imme*
diately go on to the end of the chapter or book. Yet,
with all his talents, his examiners had such an indifferent
opinion of him, that it was with some diiBcuity he gained
admission into the order of Jesuits. He died at Lisbon,
Sept. 215, 161 7. B^ order of pope Paul V. he wrote u
book *' against the errors of the English sect,*' which
James I. caused to be publicly burnt at St. Paul's. ^* Happy^
should I be," said he, '^ could I seal with my blood the
truths I have defended with my pen." Yet unpopular aa
this work must have rendered his name in this country,
his treatise on law, '* Tractatus de Legibus,'^ was printed
in London in 1679, in folio. His works are chiefly on
the subjects of metaphysics, morality, and theology ; and
what seeois to recommend them is, that he alAiost every
where relates and explains, with great fidelity and precis
sion, the different sentiments of divines concerning the
subjects on which he treats. The Jesuits consider Suarez
as the greatest and best scholastic divine their order has
produced, and lavish the highest encooiiums upon him.
He was the principal author of the system of Congruisi^,
which is at bottom only that of Molina, although, perhaps,
better adapted to the method and language of the theo-
VOL. XXIX. B
S S U A R E Z.
logiansy and disguised under a less offensive form* Father
Noel, a French Jesuit, made an abridgment of the works*
of this commentator, which was published at Geneva in
1732, in fo\io. There is a prolix life of him by Antony-
Ignatius Deschamp», printed at Perpignan in 1671, a 4to
of 800 pages. * , -
SUCKLING (Sir John), an accomplished courtier, scho-
lar, and poet, was the son of sir John Suckling, cooop-
troller of the royal household, and was born at Whitton in
Middlesex, where his father resided, in 1609. His bio-
graphers have hitherto fixed the time of his birth in 1612,
but, according to some extracts from the parish-register
of Twickenham, in Lysons's '< Environs,^* it appears, that
he was baptised Feb. 10, 1608-9. Lloyd, from whom we
have the first account of this poet, mentions a circumstance
relating to his birth, from which more was presaged tbai>.
folbwed. He was born, according to his mother^s compu«
tation, in th^ eleventh month, and long life and health,
were expected from so extraordinary an occurrence. Du-
ring his infancy he certainly displayed an uncommon fa-
cility of acquiring every branch of education. He spoke
Latin at five years of age, and could write in that language
at the age of nine. It is probable that he was taught more
languages than one at the same time, and by practising
frequently with men of education who kept company with,
bis fiither, soon acquired an ease and elegance of address
which qualified him for the court as well as for foreiga
^travel. His father is represented as a man of a serious turiv
and grave manners ; the son volatile, good-tempered, and.
thoughtless ; characteristics which be seems to have pre-
^inerved throughout life. His tutors found him particularly
tuboiissive, docile, easy to be taught, and quick in learn-
ing, it does not appear that he was sent to either uni-
versity, jret a perusal of his prose works can leave no doubt
that be laid a very solid and extensive foundation for va-
rious learning, and studied, not only such authors as were
suitable to the'vivacity of his disposition, but made him-
self acquainted with those political and religious controver-
sies which were about to involve his country in all the mi-
series of civil war.
'After continuing for some years Under his father^s tutor-
age, he travelled over the kingdom, and tbeo went to the
SUCKLING. J
cantinent, where, his biographer informs us, '^ he made an
honourable collection of the virtues of each nation, withr
out any tincture of theirs, unless it were a httle too much
of the French air» which was indeed the fault of bis com*
plexion, rather than his person." It was about this time»
probably in his twentieth year, that he joined the standard
of the illustrious Gustavus Adolphus, and was present at
three battles and (ive sieges, besides lesser engagements^
within the space of six months.
On his return he employed his time, and expended his
fortune, among the wits of his age, to whom he was re-
commended,- not only by generous and social habits, but
by a solid sense in argument and conversation far beyond
whati might be expected from his years, and the apparent
lightness of his disposition. Among bis principal asso*
ciates, we find the names of lord Falkland, Davenant, Ben
Jonson, Digby, Carew, sir Toby Matthews, and the "ever
memprabje'* Hales of Eton, to whom he addresses a lively
invitation to come to town* His plays, " Aglaura,**
^^ Brennoralt,*' "The Goblins/' and an unfinished piece
entitled " The Sad One," added considerably to his fame^
although they have not been able to perpetuate it. The first
only was printed in his life-time. All bis plays, we aretoldj
were acted with applause, and he spared no expence in
costly dresses and decorations.
While thus seemingly devoted to pleasure only, the un-
fortunate aspect of public affairs roused him to a sense of
duty, and induced him to offer his services, and devote
bis life and fortune, t^^the causes of royaltyl ^ How justly
be could contemplate the unfortunate disptite between the
court and nation, appears in his letter to^Mr.Germaine (af-
terwards lord Albemarle), a cooipo^tion Almost unrivaned
in that age for elegance of styl^ andHepth of obse/vation.
It was, however, too much the practice ; with 4%%9e^ who
made voluntary offers of soldiers, to equip them in Sa
expensive and useless manner. Suckling, who was mag-
nificent in all his expenses, was not to be outdone in an
article which be had studied more \han became a soldier,
and which he might suppose would afford unquestionable
proof of his attachment to the royal cause ; and, having
been permitted to raise a troop of horse, consisting of aii
hundred, he equipped them so '"richly, that they ari said
to have cost him the sum of twelve thousand pounds.
A SUCKLING.
Thi$ exposed him to soine degree of ridiculei a weapotk
ivliioh the republicans often wielded with successfol dex«-
terityi and which, in this instance, was sharpened by tli«
-misconduct of his gaudy soldiers. The particulars of this
Afiair are not recorded; but it appears, that in 1639, the
royai army, of which his troop formed a part, was defeated
by the tScotch, and that sir John*s men behaved remark^
ably ill. All this is possible, without any imputation on
the courage of their commander ; but it afforded his ene-
mies an opportunity of turning the expedition into ridi-
cole with an effect that is yet r emembered* The lines in
Dr. Percy's collection, by sir John Mennis, are not the only
specimen of the wit of the times at our author's expense.
This unhappy affair is said by Lloyd to have contributed
to shorten his days ; but Oldys, in his MS notes on Lang^^
4>aine, attributes his death to another cause. Lord Oxford
informed Oldys, on the authority of dean Chetwood, who
feaid he had it from lord Roscommon, that sir John Suck-
ling, in his' way to France, was robbed of a casket of gold
%nd jewels, by his valet, who gave him poison, and besides
utttck the blade of a pen-knife into his boot in such a inan«>
tier, that sir John was disabled from pursuing the villain,
And was wounded incurably in the heel. Dr. Warton, in a
«K)to to bis Essay on Pope, relates the story somewhat
differently : <* Sir John Suckling was robbed by his valet-
^e^diambre ; the moment he discovered it, he clapped on
liis boots in a f>as9ionate hnrry, and perceived not a large
fusty nail that was concealed at the bottom, which pierced
fm feed, and brought on a mortification.^* He died May 7,
'1641, in the thirty-second year of his age. That he was
■on his way to France, when he met mih the occasion of his
<dealh, seems to be confirmed by a ludicrous poem, lately^
re-printed in the " Censura Literaria," entitled "ALet-
<ter sent by sir John Suckling from Franoe, deploring bis
«ad estate and flight : with a discoverie of the plot and
conspiraeie, intended by him and bis adherents against
England. Imprinted at London, 1641.*' This poem is
dated Paris, June 16, 1641, at which time the author pro-
l»ably had not learned that the object of his satire was be-
yond his reach.
As a poet, he was one of those who wrote for amuse-
inent, Imd was not stimulated by ambition, or anxious for
fame. His pieces were sent loose about the world ; and
not having been collected until after his death, they are
SUCKLING. 1^
probs^ly le!is correct than be left them; Jtlany of hU yerscm
are as rugged and unharmonioiis as thos^e of Donne ; butbia
aongs and ballads are elegant and graceful. He was par-
tictilarly bappy and original in expressing tba feelings of
artificial love, disdain, or disappointmeDt. The ** Session,
of the Poets/' tbe << Lines lo a Rival/* the *'< HoMb
Lover/' and the ^rfiallad upon a Wedding/' are sufficient
td entitle hipa to the honours. of poetry, which the autho(
of tbe lives published under the name of Cibber,isestreiKiely
anxious to wrest from him.
His works have been often reprinted ; first in 1646, 9vQ|
again in 1 6i9^ and 1 676 ; very correctly by Tonscm in 1 7 I9f
and elegantly, but incorrectly, by Davies in 1770. Tb9
edition of Tonson has been followed in the late edition of
the ^' English Poets/' with the omission of such pieces aa
were thought degrading to his meoiory, and insulting to
publio decency *. But whatever opinion is entertained of
Suckling as a poet, it may be doubted whether his prose
writings are not calculated to raise a yet higher opinion of
bis talents. His letters, with a dash of gallantry piore
free than modern times will admit, are shrewd in observa«*
tion, and often elegant in style. That addressed to Mr.
Germaine has already been noticed, and bis ** Account <4
Religion by Reason/' is remarkable for soundness of argu*
ment, and purity of expression, far exceeding the oon«
troversial writings of that age. This piece affords a pre^
sumption that he was even now no stranger to those re-»
flections which elevate the human character, and that if
bis life had been spared, it would have been probably d^««
voted to more honourable objects than those in which b^
had employed his youthful days.^
SUETONIUS (Caius Suetonius Traijouiiaus), an
ancient historian and biographer, was born at Rome aboul
the beginning of the reign of Vespasian, perhaps in th<|
year 70, as may be collected from his own words in the
life of Nero. His father Suetonius Lenis was tribune of 4
legion, in the service of the emperor Otho, against Vitel**
lius. He passed his first years probably at Rome; mkA
when groyvn up, applied himself to the bar. He appears
to have very early acquired tbe friendship of the youngev
^ There is m manuscript poem from is of that gross kin4 w^ich delicacy
his pen ia the British Maseura* re- ivill not now tolerate.)
^lete wiUi humour 1 but tbe subjeot
1 En^lith Poetf, 21 ▼ob.Sro, IS 10, k<i*
6 SUETONIUS.
Pliny, /who procured for him the office of tribune; and
afterwards, upon his resignation, transferred it to his kins-
than, at Suetonius*s request. He obtained also for him
the " Jus trium Hberorum;" a favour seldom granted, and
which Pliny could not have obtained, if, beisides his great
Interest at court, he had not very earnestly solicited the
fenperor Trajan, in a letter written from Bitliynia, of
which he was at that tihfft oovernor. In this letter he de*
Scribes Suetonius as a man of great integritjf, honour, arid
learning, whose manners and studies were^ the same with
his own ; and he aiids, *' the better I have known him, the
more I have loved him. He has been rather unhappy in
bis marriage ; and the privileges of those who have tl^ree
' children are upon several accounts necessary. He begs
through mej therefore, that your bounty will' supply what
bis ill fortune has denied him. 1 know, sir, the high value
of the favour I ask ; but I am asking a sovereign whose
indulgence to all my wishes I have long experienced. How
desirous I am to obtain it, you wiih easily conclude, from
iny applying to you at this distance; which Ishould not
have done, if it had been a matter of indifference to me.**
Suetonius advanced himself to be afterwards secretary to
the emperor Adrian ; but he lost that place, fo^ not paying
a due respect to the empress. Spartian, speaking of him
and others involved in the same blame, uses the words
^ quod apud Sabinam uxorem, injussu ejus, familiarius se
tunc egerant, quam reverentia domus aulicse postulabat.*'
On the nature of this disrespect, or " too great familiarity,**
critics are not agreed. Their offence probabl}- rose only
from the capricious temper of the emperor, who, we are
told, treated her with great contempt himself for some
reason, and permitted others also 'to do so uiider certain
limitations; which limitations Suetonius and others might
ignorantly transgress.
' We know nothing more of Suetonius, nor of the time of
bis death. He wrote many books, none of which are come
down to us, except his Lives of the first twelve emperors,
and part of his treatise concerning the illustrious gram-
marians and rhetoricians ; for he applied himself much to
the study of grammar and rhetoric, and many are of opi-
nion that he was a teacher. Suidas ascribes to him seve-
ral works of the grammatical kind ; and observes, that he
wrote a book respecting the Grecian games, two upon the
shows of the Romans, two upon the laws and customs of
« U ET ON I U S. f
itome, one upon the life of Cicero, or upoB. btr booin
'' De Republic^* and *' A catalogue of the illustrious meo
4»f Roine.^ Matiy other pieces of his are cited by variotti
authors; and the lives of Terence, Horace, Juvenal, Per*
sius, and Lucan, have usually gone under his naoiey and
been printed at the end of his works, though it is not aln
sdutely certain that they are his. His ** History of tb#
Emperors" is a work of great value, as illustrative <^ thft
manners of the times, and the particular character of thes^
sovereigns, but is not written strictly either in the bistort*
jcal or biographical form. It consists of a continued series
of curious facts, related succinctly, without digressions or
tTeflections. There is in it a character of sincerity^ wbicli
^bews very plainly, that the author feaced and hoped for
nothings and that his pen was not directed ^y hatred or
ilattery. Suetonius, says Politian, ** has given us evident
proofs of his dttigence, veracity, and freedom. There is
DO room for any suspicion of partiality in bis books ; no*
thing is advanced out of favour, or suppressed out of fear :
the facts themselves have engrossed bis whole attention,
and he has consulted truth in the first place/' Politian is
also of opinion, that he forbore writing the lives of Nerva,
Trajan, and Adrian, the emperors of his time, because be
would not be tempted to disregard the love of truth. Some
have blamed him for his descriptions of the horrid debau*
cberies of Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, and Domitian, which
Erasmus is willing to excuse on the score of bis care and
.fidelity as an historian ; but certainly such descri|)tions caB*
Aot be defended, because they cannot be necessary even to
fidelity itself. A goad4£nglish translation was published in
1796 by Dr. Alexander Thomson, in which he softened or
suppressed Suetonjus^s indelicacies, without any injury to
the general effect of the narrative. Suetonius speaks dis«
respectfully of the Christians, catling them ** genus boroi-
niim superstitionis novae & maleficae, a sort of people of a
new and nviscbievous superstition f ' but Lardner has se*
lected froip him some important corroborations of the facts
of gospel history.
Suetonius was first printed at Rome in 1470, fol. and
was often reprinted in tb^t century, with and without dates;
since when, the best editions are : those of Stepbanua^
1543, Svo : *< Cum notis jc numismatiboa a Carolo Patin/'
Basil, 1675, 4to : ^* Cum notis integris Isaaci Casauboni,
Laevini Torrentii, Joannis Georgii GrsDvii, & selectis alio*
I SUETONIUS.
niin,*^ HagnCooiit 1691, 4to. << Cum notis varioMtn A
Pirisci," L. Bat. 1692, 2 torn. 8vo. And, " Cum hotis
•ttctioribus Pitisci,'' Leovard. 1714. This last is by far
the best; but tbere is another printed at the Hague in
1727, 4to; " In usttm Delphini," Paris, 1684, 2 torn. 4to ;
•^^ Cum notis Burmanni," 1736, in 2 vols. 4to; << Emesti,^*
l^ipsic, 1748—75, 8vo. " Oudendorp," Leyden, 1751,
•S vols. 8 vo ; and <* Wolfius," Leipsic, 1 808, 4 vols. 8 vo. ^
' SUEUR (EuSTACHE le), one of the best painters in his
-time which the French nation had produced, was born at
Paris in 1617, and studied the principles of his art und^r
Simon Vouet, whom he infinitely surpassed ; and although
he was never out of France, carried the art to a very
'high degree of perfection. His style was formed upon
antiquity, and after the best Italian masters. He invented
.with ease, and bis execution was always worthy of his de-
signs. His attitudes are simple and noble, and bis ex-i-
-pr«ssion well adapted to the subject. His draperies are
; designed after the manner of Raphael's last works. Al-
.though he knew little of the local colours, or the chiaro
scuro, he was so much master of the other parts of paint-
. ing, that there was a great likelihood of his throwing off
Vouet's manner entirely, had he lived longer. Itnmedi-
ately after Vouet's death, he perceived that his master had
ied him out of the way : and by considering the antiques
that were in France, and the designs and prints of the best
Italian masters, particularly Raphael, he contracted a more
refined style and happier manner. Le Brun could not
' forbear being jealous of Le Sueur, who did not mean,
however, to give any man pain ; for he had great simpli-
' city of manners, and much candour, and probity. He
died at Paris April 30, 1655, at no more than thirty-eight
years of age. The life of St. Bruno, in twenty pictures,
' originally preserved iu the Chartreux, and which employed
him for three years, have, as Mr. Fuseli informs us, been
- ** lately consigned to the profane clutch of restoration in
the attic of the Luxembourg, and are now little more than
the faint traces of what they were when issuing from thig
liand of their master. They have siiflered martyrdom more
; than ovroe. It is well that the naturae of the subject per-
, mitted little anore than fresco in the colouring at first, and
Aat the grent merit of their execution consisted in that
» Geo. Diet— riiou U^fiuU-^Voumi de Hjpt Lat.— te»i PsOiMsU
8 U EC IL 9
breadth of vehicle which monafttic drapeiy demands, else
we shddd have lost even the fragments that remain. The
old man in the fore-ground, the head of St. Bruno, and
some of the disputants in the hack-ground of the Predica-
tion ; the bishop and the condemned defunct in the fune*
fal ; the apparition of St. Bruno himself in the camp ; the
female figure in the eleemosinary scene, and what has suf*
fered least of all, the death of St. Bruno, contain the leatt
disputable marks of the master's primitive touch. The
subject of the whole, abstractly considered, is the'persoin*
fication of sanctity, and it has been represented in the
series with a purity which seems to place the artist's heart
on a level with that of his hero. The simplicity which telb
that tale of resignation and innocence, despises vll contrast
of more varied composition, though not always with equal
anccess. St. Bruno on his bed, visited by angels, build-
ing or viewing the plan for building his rocky retreat ; the
iiunting-scen^, and the apotheosis ; might probably ^ave
admitted happier combinations. As, in the difiPerent re*
touchings, the faces have suffered most, the expression
hdust be estimated by those that escaped ; and Arom What
still remains, we may conclude that it was uot inferior to
the composition.** *
SUGER, theabb^, a celebrated minister under Louis VII.
was born at Tguri in Beauce, in 1082, and being bred up
at St. Denis with the young prince, afterwards Louis le
Gros, became his principal guide and counsellor. On the
death of Adam, abbot of St. Denis, in 1122, Suger ob-
tained his* place, and even in his abbey performed the
duties of a minister. He reformed and improved not only
his own society, as abbot, but all departments of the state
as minister, and obtained sa high a reputation, that after
his death it was thought sufficient to write on his tomb,
" Cy git rabb6 Suger." " Here lies the abb6 8uger.F»
He died' at St. Denis, in 1152. His life has been written
in 3 vols. 12mo, by a Dominican of the name of Gervaise, .
and some works which he wrote have been inserted by Du
Chesne in his historical collections.*
SUICER (John Gaspard), a learned Gernnm divine,
was bom at Zurich June 26, 1619 ; became professor there
of the Greek and Hebrew languages ; and died at HeideU .
berg Nov. 8, 1634, according to Saxius. He Was the
1 ArgtBTille^ vol. IV.-- FilkiHgtoii. • Morari.— Diet. Hist.
ja « U I C E R,
compiler of a very useful work, called ** Lexicon, sive
Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus Patrum GraecoruiB :*' the beat
cditipo of which is that of Amsterdam, 1728, 2 vols, foU
He bad a son, Henrv Suiper, distinguished by some lite-*
rary productions, who wjm a professor, first at Zurich^ tbcB
at Hi^delberg, and who died in 1705.*
SU19AS, author of a celebrated Greek Lexicon, is a
personage of whom we are unable to give manyij^rticulars.
Who be was, or when be jived, are points of great uncer*
tarnty ; no circumstances of bis life having been recorded,
either by himself or any other writer. Politian and some
others have been of opinion that no such person ever ex«*
isted ; but that Suidas was ^ real person, appears, not only
from his namejbeing found in all the manuscripts of his
Lexicon, but from bis being ofteui mentioned by Eusta*
tbius in bis Commentary upon HomeVt% The learned have
differed in the same manner concerning the age of Suidas ;
some, as Grotius^ supposing him to have lived under Conr
stantinus, the son. of Leo, emperor of the East, who begao
to reign in the year 912; while others have brought him eveii
lower than Eustatbius, who is known to have lived in 1 ISO.
The learned Benlley thinks that as he has referred a point
of chronology to the death of the emperor Zimisces, that
is, to the year of Christ 975: we may infer that he wrote
bis Lexicon between that time and the death of the suc-
ceeding emperor, which was in 1025. This Lexicon is a .
compilation of matters from various authors, sometimes
made with judgment and diligence, but often from bad
copies ; and he therefore sometimes gives his reader cor-
rupt and spurious words, instead of those that are pure
and genuine. He also mixes things of a different kind,
and belonging to different authors, promiscuously ; and
some of his examples to illustrate the signification of words
are very little to the purpose. His Lexicon, however, is a
very useful book,- and a storehouse of all sorts of erudition.
Scholars hy profession have all prized it hijghly ; as exhi-
biting many excellent passages of ancient authors whose
works are lost. It is to be ranked uith the Bibliotbeca of
I^hotius and works of that kind. The ^^ Etymologicon
Ma|i;num^' has been ascribed to Suidas, but without suffi-
cient authority, though it may have been composed in the
same period with the Lexicon.
1 Moreri. — Diet. Hiit.— Saiii Ooomait.
S U I D A S. n
Suidas^s Lexicon was first published at Milan, 1 499, ia
Greek only : it has since been printed with a Latin ^tt^
sion : bat the best edition, indeed the only good one, it
that of Kuster, Gr. & Lat. Cambridge, 1705, 5 vols, folie*
To this should be added Toup^s v^oable *^ Emeodationct
in Saidam," Oi[on. 1790, 4 vols. 8va Mr. Taylqr had
begun an appendix to Snidas, four sheets only of which
were printed off at the time of bis death, April 4, 1 766.
It had the following title, ^'Appendix notarum in Suidae
Lexicon, ad paginasedit Cantab^ 1705, adcommodatarum ;
colUgente, qui et suas etiam aliquammultas adjecit, Joanne
Taylor." This, we believe, was never fihisl^d.'
SULLY (Maximiuan de Bethume, duke of), one of the
most able and honest ministers that France ever had, was
descended from an ancient and illustrious house, and bom
in 1 SS9 at Rosni, descended from a younger branch of the
ancient counts oif Flanders. His Either was the baroo de
Rosni. He was bred in the opinions and doctrine of the
reformed religion, and continued to the end of his life
constant in the profession of it, which seems to have fitted
him for the important services to which Providence bad
designed him. The queen of Navarre, after the death of
her husband Antony de Bourbon, returned to Beam, where
she openly professed Calvinism. She sent for her son
Henry from the court of France to Pan in 1556, and put
him under a preceptor, who trained him up in the Protea*
tant religion. She declared herself the protectress of the
Protestants in 1566 ; and went to Rochelle, where she de-
voted her 6on to the defence of the Reformed religion. In
that quality Henry, then prince of Beam, was declared
chief of the party ; and followed the army from that time
to the peace, which was signed at St. Germains, August
11, 1570. He then returned to Beam, and made use of
the quret that was given him, to visit his estates and his
government of Guyenne, after which« he went and settled
in Rochelle,' with his mother.
The advantages granted to the Protestants by the peace
of St. Germains, raised a suspicion in the breasts of their
leaders, that the court of France was acting treacherously,
and that in reality nothing else was intended by the p^ace,
than to prepare for the most dismal tragedy that ever was
1 Moreri.— Saxii OaoBiaft.— >Berringion>s Middle Afei. — Clarke'i Bibliofra-
phicat Dictionary. '
M SULLY.
ftfited ; tnd the truth was, that the queen dowager Catha-*
rine de Medicts, and her son Charles IX. being now con-
vinced that the Protestants were ,too powerful to be sub**
dued by force, were determined to extirpate them by stra«
tagem. They, however, dissembled their intentions ; and,
during the whole ye^f 1571, talked of nothing but faith-*
fully observing the treaties ef entering into a closer cor-*
respondence with the Protestants, and carefully preventing
all occasions of rekindling the war. To remove all possi*
ble suspicion, the court of France proposed a marriage
between Charles the IXth's sister, and Henry prince of
Beam; and feigned, at the same time, as if they would
prepare a war against Spain, than which nothing could be
more agreeable to Henry. These things, enforced with
the appearance of great frankness and sincerity, entirely
gained the queen of Navarre ; who, though she continued
irresolute for some months, yet yielded about the end of
1571, and prepared for the journey to Paris, as was pro*
posed, in May J 572.
Sully's father was one of those who doubted the sincerity
6f the court, and conceived such strong apprehensions, that
when the report of the court of Navarre's journey to Parit
first reached him, he could not give credit to it. Firmly
persuaded that the present calm would be of short conti*
nuance, he made haste ta take advantage of it, and pre*
pared to shut himself up with his effects in Rochelle, when
every one else thought of leaving it. But the queen of
Navarre having informed him of her design, and requested
him to join her in her way to Vendome, he went, and took
Sully, now'in his twelfth year, along with him. He found
a general security at Vendome, aud an air of satisfaction
on every face ; to which, though he durst not object in pub«-
lie, yet he made remonstrances to some of the chiefs in pri-
vate. These were considered as the effects of weakness
and timidity ; and therefore, not caring to seem wiser than
persons of greater understandings, he seemed to incline to
the general opinion. He went to Rosni, to put himself into
a condition to appear at the magnificent court of France ;
but, before he went, presented bis son to the prince of
BeWn, in the presence of the queen his mother, with great
solemnity, and assurances of the most inviolable attachment*
Sully did not return with his father to Rosni, but went to
Paris in the queen of 'Navarre's train. He applied himself
closely to his studies, without neglecting to pay a proper
S U L L T. 13
*
tovat to the prince his master ; and liwd witk a governor
and a valet de chambre in a part of Paris where almost ati
the colleges stood, and continued there till the bloody ca-
tastrophe which happened soon after.
Nothing could be more kind than die reception which
the queen of Navarre, her children, and principal servants,
met with from the king and queen; nor more obliging, thafi
their treatment of them. The queen of Navarre died, and
•ome' historians make no doubt but she was poisoned;
yet the whole court appeared sensibly affected, and went
into deep mourning. Still many of the Protestants, among
whom was Sully*s father, suspected the designs of the court;
and had such convincing proofs, that they quitted the court,
and Paris itself, or at least lodged in the suburbs., They
warned prince Henry to be cautious ; but he listened to
nothing ; and some of his chiefs were as incredulous, and
the admiral de Coligni in particular, though one of the
wisest and most sagacious men in the world. The fact to
be perpetrated was fixed for the 24th of August, 1572, and
is well known by the name of the massacre of St. Bartholo*
mew. The feast of St. Bartholomew fell this year upon a
Sunday ; and the massacre was perpetrated in the evening.
All the necessary measures having been taken, the ring-
ing of the bells or St. Germain T Adzerrois for matins was
the signal for' beginning the slaughter. The admiral de
Coligni was first murdered by a domestic of the duk6 of
Guise, the duke himself staying below in the court, and his
body was thrown out of the window. (See CoLtGNi.) The
king, as Daniel relates, went to feast himself with the sight
of it ; and, when those that were with him took notice that
it was somewhat offensive, is said to have used the reply of
the Roman emperOT Vitellius, '* The body of a dead enemy
always smells sweet.*' All the domestics of the admiral were
afterwards slain, and the slaughter was at the same time be*
gun by the king's emissaries in all parts of the city. Ta-*-
vanes, a marshal of France, who had been page to Francis L
end was at that time one of the counsellors and confidants
of Catharine de Medidis, ran through the streets of Paris,
crying, *' Let blood, let blood ! bleeding is as good in th^
month of August, as in May !" Among the most distin-
guished of the Protestants that perished was Francis de la
Rochefoucault ; who having been at play part of the night
with the king, and finding himself seized in bed by n^en in
masques, thooght they were the king and hisxourtiers, whe
14 SULLY.
came to divert themselves with him. During this carnage^
SuHj^*s safety is thus accounted for by himself: ** I was in
bed/' says he, ^^and awaked from sleep three hours after
midnight by the sound of all the bells and the confused cries
of the populace. My governor, St. Julian, with my valet de
chambre, went hastily out to know the cause ; and I never
si(terwards heard more of these men, who, without doubt,
were among the first that were sacrificed to the public fury.
I continued alone in my chamber dressing myself, when in
a few moments T saw my landlord enter, pale, and in the
utmost consternation. He was of the reformed religion ;
and, having learned what the matter was, had consented to
go to mass, to preserve his life, and his house from being"
pillaged. He came tu persuade me to do the same, and to
take me with him : I did not think proper to follow him,
but resolved to try if I could gain the college of Burgundy,
where I had studied ; though the ^reat disunce between the
bouse where I then was, and the college, made the attempt
very dangerous. Having disguised myself in a scholar^s
gown, I put a large prayer*book under my arm, and went
into the street. . I was seized with horror inexpressible at
the sight of the furious murderers ; who, running from all
parts, forced open the houses, and cried aloud, * Kill ! kill !
massacre the Huguenots !^ The blood which I saw shed
before my eyes, redoubled my terror, I fell into the midst
of a body of guards ; they stopped me, questioned me, and
were beginning to use me ill, when, happily for me, the book
that I carried was perceived, apd served me for a passport.
Twice after this I fell 'into the same danger, from which
I extricated myself by the same good fortune. At last I
arrived at the college of Burgundy, where a danger still
greater than any I had yet met with awaited me. The por«
ter having twice refused me entrance, I continued standing
in the midst of the street, at the mercy of theifurious mur-
derers, whose numbers increased every moment, and who
were evidently seeking for llieir prey ; when it came into
my mind to ask for La Faye, the principal of this college,
a good man, by whom I was tenderly beloved. The porter,
prevailed upon by some small pieces of money which I put
into his hand, adniitted me ; and my friend carried me to
his apartment, where two inhuman priests, whom I heard
mention Sicilian vespers, wanted to forpe me from him, that
they might cut me in pieces; saying, the order was, not to
spare even infants at the breast All t&^ good man could
SULLY. IS
do was to cohdact me prirately to a distant chamber, wbero
be locked. me up; and here I was confined three days, un-
certain of my destiny^ seeing no one but a servant of my
friend, who came from time to time to bring me provision."
Henry king of Navarre, who had been married to Charles
the IXth's sister but six days before, with the greatest so<*
lemnity and with all the marks pf kindness and aiTectioll
from the court, was awaked two hours before day by a great
Dumber of soldiers, who rushed boldly into a chamber in
the Louvre, where he and the prince of Cond^ lay, arid in«
solently commanded them to dress themselves, and attend
the king. They would not suffer the two princes to take
their swords with them, who, as they went, saw several of
their gentlemen massacred before their eyes. This was
contrived, doubtless, to intimidate them ; and, with the same
view, as Henry went to the king, the queen gave orders,
that they should lead him under the vaults, and make him
pass through the guards, drawn up in files on each side, and
'Sin rmenacing postures. He trembled, and recoiled two or
three steps back; but the captain of the guards swearing
that they should do him no hurt, he proceeded through,
amidst carbines and halberts. The king waited for them, and
received them with a countenance and eyes full of fury : he
ordered them with oaths and blasphemies, which were fa-
miliar with him, to quit a religion, which he said had been
taken up only for a cloke to their rebellion : be told them
in a fierce and angry tone, ** that he would no longer be
contradicted in his opinions by his subjects; that they by
their example should teach others to revere him as the
image of God, and cease to be enemies to the images of his
mother;*' and ended by declaring, that <Mf they did not
go to mass, he' would treat them' as criminals guilty of trea*
son against diviniB and hupnan majesty." The manner of
pronouncing these words not suffering the princes to doubt
the sincerity of them, they yielded to necessity, and per«
formed what was required of them : and Henry was even
obliged to send an edict into his dominions, by which the
exercise of any other religion but the Romish was forbidden.
In the niean time the court sent orders to the governors
in all the provinces, that the same destruction should be
made of the Protestants there as had been at Paris;' but
many of them nobly refused to execute these orders ; and
the viscount d'Ortbe had the courage to writie from Bay*
onoe to Charles IX. that, ^ be found many fo«d soldiem
16 JrU L L Y.
in his gamsoii) but not one execationef t and begged biia
to commantl their lives in any service that was possible/'
Yet the abettors and prime actors in this tragedy at Paris-
were wonderfully satisfied with themselves^ and. found much
comfort in having been able to do so much for the cause of
God and bis church. Tavanes, mentioned above, who ran
about the streets crying ^* Let blood ! let blodd !*^ .being
upon his death-bed, made a general confessibn of the sins
of bis life ; aften which his confessor saying to him with an
air of astonishment, *^ Why ! you speak not a word of St«
Bartholomew;'* he replied, '^I look upon that as a meri-*
torious action, which ought to atone for all the sins I have
ever committed." This is related by his son, who has writ*
ten memoirs of him. The king himself must have supposed
real merit to have been in it ; for, not content with setting
bis seal and sanction to these detestable butcheries, he is
credibly affirmed to have taken the carbine into his own
hands, and to have 'shot at the poor Huguenots as they at-*
tempted to escape. The court of Rome did all they could
to confirm the Parisians in this horrid notion : foi: though
Pope Pius V. is said to have been so much afflicted at the
massacre as to shed tears, yet Gregory XI IL who succeeded
bim, ordered a public thanksgiving to God for it to be of-
fered at Rome, and sent a legate to congratulate Charles
I^. and to exhort him to continue it. Father Daniel coo-
tents himself with saying, that the king's zeal in his ter-
rible punishment of the heretics was commended at Rome ;
und Baronius affirms the action to have been absolutely
necessary. The French writers, however, have spoken of
it in the manner it deserves; have represented it as the
most wicked and inhuman devastation that ever wss com<«
emitted: ^'an execrable action,*' says one of th^m, Prefixe,
*^that never had, and I trust God will never have, its like.''
Seventy thousand, according to Sully's Memoirs, was the
numberof Protestants massacred, duringeight days, through-
out the kingdom.
At the end of three days, however, a prohibition against
murdering and pillaging any more of the Protesjlants was
published at Paris ; and then Sully was suffered to quit bis
cell in the college of Burgundy. He immediately saw two
ioldiers of the guard, agents to his father, entering the col-
lege, wlio gave his father a relation of what had happened
to b!m ; and^ eight days after, he received a letter from
him, advising bim to continue in Paris, since the prince h#
-SULLY* 17
served was not at liberty to leave it; and adding, thatb#
should follow the princess example in going to mass. Tbougb
the king of Navarre had saved bis life by this submission,
yet in other things be was treated very indifferently, and
suffered a thousand capricious insults. He was obliged,
against his will, to stay some years at the court of France;
he knew very well how to dissemble his chagrin ; and he
often diverted it by gallantries, and the lady de Sauves,
wife to one of the secretaries of state, became one of his
chief mistresses. But still he did not neglect such politi-
cal measures as seemed practicable, and he had a hand iii
those that were formed to take away the government from
Catharine de Medicis, and to expel the Guises from court ;
which that queen discovering, caused him and the duke of
Alen^on to be arrested, set guards upon them, and ordered
them to be examined upon many heinous allegations. They
wercisetat liberty by Henry III. for Charles IX. died, 1574,
io the most exquisite torments and horrors, the massacre of
8t. Bartholomew's r day having been always in his mind.
Sully employed his leisure in the most advantageous man*
ner he was able. He found it impracticable in a court to
' pursue the study of the learned languages, or of any
'thing called learning ; but the king of Navarre ordered him
to be taught mathematics and history, and^ali those exer-
cises which give ease and gracefulness to the person ; that
method of educating youth, with a particular attention to
tiie formation of the manners, being peculiar to Henry,
who was himself educated in the same way.
In 1576,. the king of Navarre made his escape from the
court of France, while on a hunting-party near Senlis;
from whence, his guards . being dispersed, he instantly
passed the Seine at Poissy, and went to Tours, where he
no sooner arrived than he resumed the exercise of the Pro-
testant religion. A war was now expected ; and Catharine
de Medicis began to tremble in her turn : and, indeed,
from that time to 158^, Henry's life presents us only with
a mixture of battles, negociations, and love-intrigues, ifhich
kst made no inconsiderable part of his business. Sully was
one of those who attended him in his flight, and who con-
tiniled to attend him to the end of his life, serving him in,
the different capacities of soldier and statesman, as the va-
xiout conditions of bis.aiiairs required. Henry'^ wife, whom
•Catharine had brought to him in 1578, was a great impedi-
saent ta bim ; yet by bit management she was someiimti
Vol. XXIX. C
IS SULLY.
of use also. There were frequent ruptures betvreeti hitn
afid the court of France; but at last Henry IIL confede-
rated with him sincerely, and in ^;ood earnest, to resist the
League, which was more furious than ever, after the death
of the duke of Guise and the cardinal his brother. The
reeoncihation and confederacy of these two kings was con*
eluded iii April 1589 : their interview was at Tours the 30th
of that month, attended with great demonstratton'of mutual
satisfaction. They joined their troops some time after to
lay siege to Paris : they besieged it in person, and were
upon the point of conquering that great city, when the king
of France was assassinated by James Clement, a Dominicati
friar, the Ist of August, at the village of St, Cloud. " The
league,'' says Henault, ^Ms perhaps the most extraordinary
event in history; and Henry IIL may be reckoned the
weakest prince in not foreseeing, that he should render
himself dependant on that party by becoming their chief.
The Protestants had made war against him, as an enemy
of their sect; and the leaguers murdered him on account
of his uniting with the king of Navarre, the chief of the
Huguenots/'
Henry III. upon his death-bed declared the king of Na<*
varre bis successor, who accordingly succeeded him, but
not without very great difficulties. He was acknowledged
king by most of the lords, whether catholic or protestant,
who happened then to be at court ; ' but the leaguers re«
fused absolutely to acknowledge his title till he had re^
nounced the protestant religion ; and the city of Paris peir-
aisted in its revolt till the 22d of March, 1594. H^ em-
braced the catholic religion, as the only method of putting
an end to the miseries of France, by the advice of Sully,
whom he had long taken into the sincerest confidehce;
and the celebrated Du Perron, afterwards cardinal, was
made the instrument of his conversion* He attempted also
to convert Sully, but in vain : ** My parents bred me,'* said
the minister, *^ in the opinions and dottrines of the re-
formed religion, and I have continued constant in the pro-
fession of it ; neither threatenings, promises^ variety of
events, nor the change even of the king my protector,
joined to his most tender solicitations, iiave ever been able
to make me renounce it."
This change of religion in Henry IV. thdugh it tieeoted
4o create a present satisfaction, did not secure bifti froiti
continual plots and troubles ; and beirrg made ttpon poUf^
I
\
fi U L L Y* }0
<pcal asiQtives, it was natural to suppose it not sincere.
Thus, Dec. 26, 1594, a scholar, named John Chastel, at-
^napted to assassinate tbe king, but only wounded bim iti
the 9>outb ; aud when he was interrogated concerning tbe
Qriiue, readily apswered, ^^ That he came from the college
of 1;he. Jesuits,*' and then accused those fathers ofhs^ving
instigated him to it The king, who was present at his
i^aminatioq, said with much gaiety, that '^ he bad heard,
froiQ the mouths of many persons, that the society never
lQv§d him, and he was now convinced of it by his own^'*
l^ome writers have related, that this assassination was at-
tempted when he was with the fair Gabriel le, his mistress,
at t;be hotel d'Estr6es ; but SuUy, who was with him, says
^hat it was at Paris, in his apartments in the Louvre. This
Ga.brie)le wm the favourite mistress of Henry JLV. and it is
said, that the king intended to marry her ; but she died in
1^99, tbe year that his marriage with Margaret of Yalois^
sister of Charles IX. was declared null and void by the
pope^s commissioners, with consent of both parties. Hf
married Mary of Medicis, at Lyons> th^ year after, and
appointed madame de Guerchevilie, to whom he had made
Ipve without success, to be one of her ladies of honour ;
saying, that ^^ since she was a lady of real honour, she
should be in that .post with tbe queen his wife.'' Henry,
though he was ^ great monarch, was not alv^ays successful
iu his addresses to the fair ; and a noble saying is recorded
by many writers of Catharine, sister to tbe viscount de
JS^o^an^ who replied tq a declaration of gallantry from this
priuce^ that ^^ she was too poor tp be his wife, and of top
good a family tp. be his mistress."
Sully was n^w the first minister ; and he performed all
lb? p4Eie.e4 of a great and good minuter, whil^ Henry per-
formed the offices of a great and good king. He attended
to every part of the government ; prosecuted extortioners^
aud those who were guilty of embezzling the public money;
and, in short| restored the kingdom, in a few years, from
a moft desperate to a most flourishing condition ; whicb^
however, be could not have done, if tbe king had ndt re-
•oiutely supported him agsfinst favourite mistresses, the
^skbals of court, ^nd tbe factions, of state, which would
otherwise have overwhelmed him. The king himself turned
bi^ wjiole application to every thing that might be useful,
9r eveiV' convenient, tp bis kingdom, without suffering
a^j^^ j^bat hi^ppened oi^t of it to pass unobserved, ^# j^ooa
c 2
20 SULLY.
as he had put an end to the civil wars of France, and had
conciuded a peace with Spain at Vecvins, on the 2d of
May, 1 598. The state of the finances of BVance was at this
time in a wretched situation, as many of the provinces were
entirely exhausted, and none of them in a condition of
bearing any new imposition. The standing revenues
brought into the king's coffers no more than thirty millions,
though an hundred and fifty millions were raised on the
people : so great were the abuses of that government in
raising mdney ; and they were not less in the dispensation
of it. The whole scheme of the administration was a
scheme of fraud, and all who served cheated the public,
from the highest offices down to the lowest ; from the com-^
tnissioners of the treasury, down to the under farmers and
under treasurers. Sully beheld this state of things, wheu
he came to have the sole superintendency of affairs, with
horror; he was ready to despair: but zeal for his master
and for his country animated his endeavours, and he re-
solved to make the reformation of abuses, the reduction of
expences, and a frugal management, the fund for the pay-
ment of national debts, and for all the great things he
intended to do, without overcharging the people. This
plan fully succeeded. The people were immediately eased,
trade revived, the king's coffers were filled, a maritime
power was created, and every thing necessary was pre-
pared to put the nation in a condition of executing great
designs, whenever great conjunctures should offer them-
^Ives. "Such," says Bolingbroke, "was the effect of
twelve years of wise and honest administration : and this
effect would have shewed itself in great enterprises against
the house of Austria, more formidable in these days than
the house of Bourbon has been in ours, if Henry IV. had
not been stabbed by one of those assassins, into wbDse hands
the interest of this hou.se, and the frenzy of religion, had
p'ut the dagger more than once."
Henry was murdered the ITth" of May, J6I0; and, it
appears> had many presages of his cruel destiny, which,
"Sully tells us, " were indeed dreadful and surprising to the
last degree." The queen was to be crowned purely to
gratify her, for Henry was vehemently argainst the corona-
tion ; and, the neai*er the moment approached, the more
his terrors increased. "In this state of overwhelming hor-
ror, which," says Sully, " at first I thought an unpar-
donable weakness, he opened his whole heart to me : his
SULLY; 21
own words will be more affecting than all Tcati say. * Oh !
my friend/ said he, ' this coronation does not please me :
I know not what is the meaning of it, but my heart telU me
some fatal accident will happen.' He sat down, as he spoke
these words, upon^ a chair in my closet; and, resigning
himself some time to all the horror of his melancholy ap-
prehensions, he suddenly started up, and cried out, * Par
Dieu, I shall die in this city; they will murder ipe here;
I see plainly they l>ave made my death their only re-
source !** for he had then great designs on foot against
Spain and the house of Austria. He repeated these fore^
bodings several times, which Sully as often treated as chi-
ifneras; but they proved realities.
' After the death of his master, by which he was greatly
afflicted, Sully retired from court; for, a new reign intro-
ducing new men and new measures, he was no longer re-
garded. The life he led in retreat was accompanied with
decency, grandeur, and even mlijesty ; yet it was, in some
measure, embittered with domestic troubles, arising from
the extravagance and ill conduct of his eldest son, the mar-
quis of Rosni. H^ died J>ec, 22, 1641, aged eighty.three,
and his duchess caused a statue to be erected over his
burying^place, with this inscription :• " Here lies the body
of the most high, most puissant, and most illustrious lord,
Maximilian de Betbune, marquis of Rosni, who shared in
all the fortunes of king Henry the Great ; among which
was that memorable battle, which gave the crown to the
victor; where, by his valour, he gained the white standard,
and took several prisoners of distinction. He was by that
great monarch, in reward of his many virtues and distin-
guished merit, honoured with the dignities of duke, peer,
and marshal of France, with the governments of the Upper
and Lower Poitou, with the office of grand master of the
ordnance; in which, bearing the thunder of his Jupiter,
be took the castle of Montmelian, till then believed im-
pregnable, and many other fortresses of Savoy. He was
likewise made superintendant of the finances, which office
he discharged singly, with a wise and prudent oeconomy ;
and continued his faithful services till that unfortunate day,
when the Caesar of the French nation lost his life by the
hand of a parricide. After the lamented death of that gre^at
king, he retired from public affairs,, and passed the re-
mainder of his life in ease and tranquillity. He died at
the castle of Villebon, Dec. 22, 1641, aged 82."
2i ^ U L L T.,
Though he lived to such an age, no life could be more
frequently exposed to perils than that of Sully. One of
these wa^ of a very extraordinary kind, and deserves to be
particularly mentioned. It was at the taking of a town ifi
Cambray, in 1581, when, to defend the women from the
brutality of the soldiers, the churches, with guards about
them, were given them for asylums; nevertheless, a very
beautiful young girl suddenly threw herself into the arms
of Suily, as he was walking in the streets, and, holding
him fast, conjured him to guard her fronfi so^e soldiers^
who, she said, had concealed themselves as soon as they
saw him. Sully endeavoured to calm her fears, and offered
to conduct her to the next church ; but she tpid him she
had been there, and had asked for admittance, which they
refused, because they knpw she had the plague. Sully
thrust her from him with the utmost indignation as well as
horror, and expected every moment to be seized with the
plague, which, however, did nof; happen.
The character of Sully, as it was given by his master
Henry IV. is thus preserved in his memoirs. ** Some per-
sons,'* said Henry, " complain, and indeed I do myself,
sometimes, of his temper. They say he is harsh, impa*
tienty and obstinate : he is accused of having too enter-
prising a mind, of presuming too much upon his own
opinions^ exaggerating the worth of his own actions, and
lessening that of others, as likewise of eagerly aspiring
after honours and riches. Now, although I ani well con-
vinced that part of these imputations are true, and that I
ani obliged to keep a high band over h'ltfi, when he offends
me with those sallies of ill humour ; yet I cannot cease to
love him, esteem him, and employ him in all affairs of con-
sequence, because I am very sure that he loves my person,
that he takes an interest in fs\y preservation, and that be
is ardently solicitous for the honour, the glory, and gran-
deur of me and my kingdom. I know also that he has no
malignity in bis heart; that he is indefatigable in business,
and fruitful in expedients; he is a careful manager of my
revenue, a man Iabo|*ious and diligent, who endeavours to
be ignorant of nothing^ and to render himself capable of
coiuiucting all affairs, whether of peace or war ; who writes
and speaks in a style that pleases me, because it is at once
that of a soldier and statesman. In a word, I confess to
you, that, notwithstanding all his extravagances and little
S U t L Y. 13
transport^: of f^assipn, I 6nd no one so capable as he it of
ponsoHng me under every uneasiness.^'
The ^' Memoirs of Sully*' have always been ranked among
the best, jand certainly are among the most interesting and
.authentic books of French history, replete with good
sense and virtuous remark. They contain a particular ac-
count of whatever passed frooi the peace in 15.70, to the
death of Henry IV* in 1610 ; a period of time, which has
supplied ihe most copious subjects to the historians of
France* They are full of numerous and various events ;
war9, foreign and doeiestic ; interests of state and religion ;
inaster*;$trokes of policy; unexpected discoveries; striig*
gles of ambition ; stratagems of policy ; embassies and ne-
^ociatiofis. Tiiese memoirs take their value, perhaps' their
freatest value, from the imiumerable recitals of a private
ind^ which scarcely belong to the province. of history;
^or, at the same time that they treat of the reign, they
describe the wbo)e life of Henry the Great. They are
jaot;, however, either in the form or language in which they
were left by Sully: the form has been digested aiid me-
thodized^ aiKl the language has been corrected and po-
lished. The best edition in French is that of Paris, in 8
vols. 4to, and also in 8 vols. 12mo. They have been trans*-
jated into Engljish by Mrs. Charlotte Lennox, and pub-
lished both in 4to and 8vo.
SULPICI A, an .ancient Roman poetess, the vt^ife of Ca*>
lenus, flourished about the year 90, and was so admired
as to be thought worthy of the title of the Roman Sappho.
'We have nothings left of her but a satire, or rather frag-
ment of a satire, against Domitian, who published a decree
for the banishment of the philosophers from Rome. This
isatire was published at Strasburgh, with other poems, by 6.
Morula, 1 509, 4to,and may be found in other collections, but
has usually been printed at the end of the ^' Satires of Ju-
venal," to whom, as well as to Aiisonius, it has been attri-
buted by some critics. Graingerlikewiseaddeditto his **Ti-
buUus,'' with a translation and notes. From the invooatroii
}t should 9eem, that she was the author of many other poems,
j^nd the first Roman lady who taught her sex to vie with the
Greeks in poetry. Her language is easy and elegant,- and
ahe seems to have bad a happy talent, for satire. She is *
inentioned by Martial and Sidonius ApoUinaris, and is said
to have addressed to her husband Calenus, who was a Ro- ,
znah knight^ ** A poem oii conjugal love," but this is test.
24 S U t ? 1 CI A.
Her. satire hai b^eiv reprinted by Wernsdorf in the tbTr3
volume of the " Poeta Minofes Latini," where may bte
seen some useful remarks respecting her works. '
SULPICIUS SEVERUS (surnamed the CifRiSTiAir
Sallust), an ecclesiastical writer, who flourished about tfao
beginning of the fifth century, was a disciple of 8t. Martin
of Tours, whose life he has written ; and friend of Pauliw
ims, bishop of Nola, with whom be held a constant and
intimate correspondence. He was illustrious fpr his birth,
his eloquence, and still more for bis piety and virtue. Af-
ter he had shone uitb great iustr^ at the bar, he married
very advantageously ; but, losing his wife soon after, he
quitted the world, and became a priest. He was born at
Ageh, in the province of Aquitain, which at that time pro*
duced the best poets, the best rhetoricians, and the best
orators of the Roman empire, of those at least who wrotv
in Latin. He lived sometimes at Elisso, and sometimes
at Toulouse. Some have affirmed, that he was bishop of
the Biturices ; but they have erroneously confounded biuri
with another Severus Sulpicius, who was bishop of that
people, and died at the end of the sixth century. Sulpi**
cius lived till about the year 420. He is said to have been
at one time seduced by the Pelagians ;'and that, returni«r
ing to his old principles, be imposed a silence upon h\ah*
self for the rest of his days, as the best atonement be
could make for his error ; but some think that this silence
meant only his refraining from writing or controversy. Th^
principal of his works was his " Historia Sacra,*^ in twd
books; in which he gives a succinct account of all the re-^
xnarkable things that passed in the Jewish or Christian
churches, from the creation of the world to about the
year 400. He wrote, also, the *' Life of St. Martin,'* as
we have said already ; " Three Letters upon the death and
virtues of this saint j" and "Three Dialogues;" the firsfc^
upon the miracles of the Eastern monks, and the two last^
upon the extraordinary qualities and graces of St* Martin.
These, with seven other epistles never before printed with
his works, were all revised, corrected, and published with
notes, in a very elegant edition, by Le Clerc, at Leipsic^
in 1709, 8vo. There is another by Jerom de Prato, printed
. at Venice in 1741^ — 54, 2 vols. 4to, the text of. which i^
tl^ougbt the most correct. ^
. . 1 Voasius de Poet. Lat.— iFabric. Bibl. Lat.— Saxii Onomait. .. '
S U L P I C I U S. 25
Stilpicms has a purity in his style, far heyond the age in
!«vhich he lived. He has joined a very concise manner of
expressing hifnself to a remarkable perspicuity, arid in this
bas equaiied even^SaHnst himself, whom he always imitates^
«nd sometimes quotes. He is nor, indeed, correct through-
out in' his " History of the Church ;" and is very credulous
vipon thB point of miracles. He admits also several opi-
nions, which have no foundation in Scripture; and he is
in some instances defective, taking no notice, for example,
of the reign of Julian, &c. His ** Dialogues** contain
many interesting particulars, respecting the manners and
sinoularities of the Eastern monks; the disturbances which
the books of Origin had occasioned in Egypt and Pales-
Une, and other matters of some curiosity.*
SULZER (John George), a very Eminent German, or
rather Swiss, plJilosopher, was bom at Winterthour, in the
•canton of Zurich, October 16, 1720, and is said to have
been the yonngest of twenty-five qbiidren. Both his pa-
rents died on ihe same day in 1734, and left, him barely
enough to die^ray the expence of his education. His ta-
lents ilid not develppe themselves early ; and, at sixteen,
he had not even acquired a taste for study. Wolfe's Me-
taphysics was the first book thiit awakened in him a love of
philosophy ; and the counsels and example of the cele-
JE^rated Gesner soon after incited him to a[)ply himself ea-
gerly to mathematics and general science, and to re-
sume the study of Grecian and Oriental literature. In '
1739, he bicame an ecclesiastic; and a favourable situa-
tion for examining the beauties of nature, made him an
enthusiast in that branch of knowledge. -He published^ '
therefore, at twenty-one, ** Moral contemplations of the
works of Nature;'* and, in the same year, 1741, "A De-
scription of the most remarkable Art tiqui ties in the Lord-
-ship of Knonau," written in German. The year after, he
jpublished an account of a journey which he took in the
Alps; in which he displayed, not only his sensibility of
jtfae beauties of nature, but his profound sense of the ih-
£nite power and goodness of its author. Becoming a tutor
fii Magdeburg, he obtained the acquaintance of Mauper-
tuis^ Euler, and Sack ; in consequence of which his merits
Itecame more known, and he obtained, in 1747, the ap-
pointment of mathematical professor in the royal college
I CavCf vol. L— Dupin,— Laidser's Works.— Gen. Dict.-*SaxD OnomasU
i
%^ S U L Z E R.
at Berlin ; and beei^me a menober of ihe Royal Acadnmj
there in 17 0.
, Tbe works of Sulzer are numerous ; bal the most irn<9
portant is, liis ** Universal Theory pf the &i\e Arts,'* (Aij*
jgetneine Theorie der schbncn Kunste, &c.) which is ^
dictionary in two volumes, quarto, containing all the tern^s
of, the various arts digested into one alphabet. In this jta
appears at once a profound thinker, and a man of singular
^orth. The first volume appeared at Leipsic in 1771 ; th^
^econd in 1774^ He wrote also, ^* Remarks on the Ptiilo*^
lophicdi Essays of Uume;^^ a work in which he both ac-
knowfedges the acutenes^, and detects th^ sophistry of oujr
celebrated sceptic. The king of Prussia distinguished him
by many marks of bounty and favour, but it so happened
that he never saw him till near tbe end oH 1777, although
be had been member of the academy from tbe year 175Q.
$uizer lived only to tbe age of sixty ; and died February ^5,
1779. His character is of the purest kind ; amiable, vir«
tuous, sociable, and beneficent. His philosophy was th«^
of a true Christian, and the support be derived from it
was proportionably ui>iform and steady. His dying nfia*
ipents were calm, humble, and sublime ; and his couii'-
lenance, when he expired, wore the composurje of sleftp.
He had no enemy, aiid his friends were numerous and af«
fectionate. '
SUMOROKOF (Alexander), denominated tbe founder
of tbe Russian theatre, was the son of Peter Sumorokof, ^
Russian nobleman, aad was born at Moscow November 14,
1727. He received the first rudiments of learning in h^
fatjher's bouse, where, besides a grammatical knowledge oi
bis native tongue, he was well grounded in the Latin lan-
guage. Being removed to the semiuary of the cadets at .
St. Petersburgh, he prosecuted bis studies with unwearied
application, and gave early proofs of bis genius for poetry.
Even on holidays be would retire from his companions, who
were engaged in play, and devote bis whole time to the
perusal of tbe Latin and French writers : nor was it long
before he himself attempted to compose. The first efforts
of his ger)ips were love-songs, whose tenderness and beaur-
iies, till then unexpressed in the Russian tongue, were
greatly ado^ired, and considered as certain prognostics qf
' Eloge by Formey ia the Berlin Memoirs for 1779.^Meister'i Portraiti des
fiommei lUustres de la Suisse.
S U M O R O K O r. 8f
bfi rathhe fknicf. Upon quitting the seminary, he was ap**
pointed adjutant, first to count Golovkin, and afterwards te
coimt 'Rosomduski : and being soon noticed and patrbnized
by count Ivan Shuvalof, he was introduced by that Mascenai
to the empress Elizabeth, who took him under her protecw
tion. About the twenty-ninth year of his age, an enthast»-
Astic fondness he had contracted for the works of Ractne^
turned his genius to the drama ; and he wrote the tragedy
of <' Koref/' which laid the foundation of the Russian
theatre. This piece was first acted by some of his former
schoolmates, the cadets, who had previously exercised their
talents in declamations, and in acting a French play. The
empress Elizabeth, informed of this pnenomenon in the
theatrical world, orderied the tragedy to be exhibited in her
bresence, upon a small theatre of the court, where Ger-
man, Italian, and French plays had been performed. The
appjause and distinction which the author receKed on this
occasion, encouraged him to follow the bent of his genius,
nnd he produced other tragedies, several comedies, and two
operas. With respect to his tragedies, Racine yvas his
model; and the Russian biographer of Sumorokof, who
seems a competent judge of his merit, allows, that tboagb
in some instances be has attained all the excellence of the
French poet,- yet he has failed in many others ; but it
would be uncandid to insist upon such defects in a writer
lyho first introduced the drama among his countrymen.
The French overlook in their Corneille still greater faults.
*^ His comedies,'' continues the same author, '* contain
mnch humour; but I do not imagine that our dramatic
writers will adopt him for their model: for he frequently
excites the laughter of the spectator at the expeiice of his
cooler judgment. Nevertheless, they preiient sufficient
passages to prove, that he would have attained a greater de*
gree of perfection in this line, if he had paid more atten-
tion to paint our manners, and to follow the taste of the biest
foreign writers,"
Besides dramatic writings, Sumorokof attempted every
species of poetry, excepting the epic. He wrote love-
songs, idyllia, fables^ satires, anacreontics, elegies, versions
of the Psalms, and Pindaric odes. Superior to Lomonozof
in the compositions of the drama, he yet was inferior to
him in Pindaric writitigs. Though his odes, adds his bio*
grapher, are distinguished by their easy flow of versiiica^
tion; by their harmony, softness, and grace, yet they
S8 S U M O R O K p F.
4
far from reaching that elevation and fire which characterize
those of Lomonozof. These two great poets had each
their peculiar talents : the one displayed in his style all the
majesty, strength, and sublimity of the Russian tongue;
and the other all its harmony, softness, and elegance. The
elegies of Sumorokof are full of tenderness.: his idyls give
a true picture of the pastoral life in all the (ileasing simpli-
city pf unimproved nature, without descending to vulgarity;
and may serve as models in this species of composition, in
all things excepting in strict morality. His satires are the
best in the Russian language, but are extremely unequal, and
deserve to have been wrought with more plan and regu-
larity. In writing his fables, his pen seems to have been
guided by the Muses and Graces ; and his biographer seems
inclined, if not to prefer them, at .least to compare them
with those of Fontaine. Sumorokof was also author of a
few short and detached historical pieces. 1. " A Chroni-
cle of Moscow,'* in which he relates the origin of that city;
and abridges the reigns of its monarcbs from Ivan Danilo-
Titch to Feodor Alexievitch. 2. ** A History of the first
insurrection of the Strelitz in 1682, by which Ivan was ap-
pointed joint-sovereign with Peter the Great, and the prin-
cess iSophia regent." 3. " An account of Stenko Kazin's
rebellion." His style in these pieces is sa,id to be clear
and perspicuous, but somewhat too flowery and poetical
for prose. Sumorokof obtained by his merit the fiivour
and protection of his sovereign. Elizabeth gave him the
rank of brigadier; appointed him director of the Russian
theatre, and settled upon him a pension of 400/. per annum.
^Catherine II. created him counsellor of state; conferred
upon him the order of St. Anne;, and honoured him with
many instances of munificence and distinction until his
death, which carried him off at Moscow, October 1, 1777>
in the fifty-first year of hh age.
With respect to his disposition, says his biographer, it was
amiable; but his extreme sensibility, an excellent quality in
a poet when tempered with philosophy, occasioned that
singularity and vehemence of character, which gave so
much trouble and uneasiness to all his acquaintance, but
particularly to himself. He was polite and condescending
towards those who treated him with respect, but haughty
to those who behaved to him with pride. He knew no de-
cei£; hq was a true friend, and an open enemy ; and could
neither forget an obligation nor an injury. Passionate,
SUM OR O K O F.
29
and frequently inconsiderate in his parsuitSy he could not
bear the least opposition ; and oftentimes looked upon tb«
most trifling circumstance as the* greatest evil. His ex-
traordinary fame, the many favours which the empress
conferred upon him, with the indulgence and veneration of
his friends, might have made him extremely fortunate, .if
be bad understood ihe art of being so. He had conceived .
a great, perhaps too great, idea of the character atid
merits, of a true poet ; and could not endure to see with
patience this noble and much-esteemed art, which had
been consecrated by Homer, Virgil, and other great men^
profafied by persons without judgment or abilities. Thesie
pretenders, he would say, shock the public with their jion- '
sense in rhyme ; and clothe their monstrous conceptions ia
the dress of the Muses. The public recoil from them with
disgust and aversion ; and, deceived by their appearance,
treat with irreverence^ tbos^ children of heaven the true-
Muses. The examples of Lomonozof and Sumorokof have
teilUed to diffuse a spirit of poetry, and a taste for polite
learning, among the Russians; and they are succeeded by
a numerous band of poets. ^
SURENHUSIUS (Wiluam), a celebrated Hebrew and
Greek professor in the university of Amsterdam, is most
known for his edition of the Mischna of the Jews, with
notes, and a Latin version, which he began^to publish io
1698, and completed in 1703, in 3 vols, folio. It contains
also the commentaries of the Rabbins, JMaimonides^ and
Bartenora. The period at which he«flourished is ascer-
tained by this pubhcation ; but, *in the books which we have
been able to consult, we do not find any account of th#
time when he was born or died. The latter event must
have, however, been posterior to 1713, when he published
a learned work in Latin, '^ in which the passages Of the
Old Testament, quoted in the New, are vindicated and re*
conciled, according to the forms of quotation, and the se«.
veral ways of interpreting the scripture, used by the aa^
cient Hebrew Theologers," Amst 4to.*
SURITA, orZURlTA (Jerome), a Spanish historian;
was born at.Saragossa, Dec. 4, 1512,, of an ancient family.''
He made great progress in Greek and Latin, under a very
able master, at Alcala de Henares; but bis particular i^v&m
4ilection was for the study of history. Hef afterwards
y Coxe's Trarelf in F«siia.
• Diet. HUt—Saxii Oaofliait^
30. 8 U R I T A.
became secretary to the inquisition, but employed his timift
chiefly in writing numerous works which procured hioi a
irery high reputation, not only with his countrymen, but in
the Of'inion of the learned of other nations. He died Oct.
31, 1590, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His prin-t
cipal historical work is his ^' Anales de la corona del Reyno
de Aragon," 7 vols. fol. first printed at Saragossa in 1562^
but th£ third edition of 1610 is accounted the most com-
plete. He published also in Latin ^* Indices rerum ab
Aragonias regibus gestarum, libri tres,'' Sarag. 1578, with
the addition of ** Gaufredi Monachi de acquisitione regni
Sieiiise, Calabrias, &c. per Robertum Guiscardum et fratreti.
NortmaoDos. principes,*' and Celesinus ^^De.Roberti Si<^
ciiiiB regis rebus gestis, libri <)uatuor," both before un-
published. He was the editor also of Antoninus's Itinerary,
and bis notes were adopted by Dr. Thomas Gale in hi»
edition. He left many other learned works in MS. parti-^
eularly commentaries on Julius Caesar, and on Claudian.^
SURIUS (Laurentius), a voluminous compiler, was
horn at Lubeck in 1522, and entered the Carthusian ordet^
in that city, where he became ceiebraited for his virtues
ind learning. He died May 25^ 1578, at Cologn, aged
fifty-six. The principal among his numerous works are/
"A Collection of Councils," 1567, 4 vols, fol.; <^ The
Lives of the Saints,^' Cologn, 1618, 7 vols, fol.; and ^^Aii
History of his Own Times from 1500 to 1566,'* 1569, 8vo ;
Vanslated into French, 1573, 8vo. Snrius did not want
learning, but those of his own communion are willing to
allow that he gave credit blindly to fables^ and was defi^
cient in critical knowledge.'
: SUTCLIFFE, orSOUTCLIFFE (Matthew), an En-
glish divine of considerable abilities in controversy, wai
ediicaaed at Trinity •college, Cambridge, but of bis early
history we have no acconnt. In 1586, he was installed
archdeacon of Taunton, and on Oct. 22, 1588, coniirmc^d
•dean of £xeter. He had been admitted a civilian in 1 582*
He died in 1629, leaving a daughter his heiress, who,
^fhince thinks, was married to the son and heir of the Halse
family in Devonshire ; and as the estates Dr. SotclilFe left
to/Chels€a«€X)llege were in that country, it probabljr was.
his ^birthopiace. He ^was esteemed a very learned wfitei^
,• • , ' .^ . , . . . . ....*-
I Antonio-Bibl. Hisp.—Clctnent. Bibl. Curlense. — Vouius de Sclent Matk*
•^Thuaul HisU -^ Moreri.— Diet. tlUt.— Saxii Oaomiist.
SUTCLIFFE. SI
ifki defence of the protestant establishment; butaltbough
long in favour with James I. upon that account, we find
ibrat tbi&prince, in 1621, ordered him to be taken into cus*^
Mdy for the freedom of his remarks upon public affairs*
On the other hand Strype, in his life of Whitgift, has
published a long letter from that eminent prelate to Besa,
defending SutclifFe against some disrespectful ezpressioiw
used by the reformer. Among his works, may be noticed^
1. ^' A treatise of Ecclesiastical Discipline,*' Lond. 1591,
4to. 2. ^' De Presbycerio, .ejusque nova in Ecclesia Chris-*
tianiL Foliteia," the same year, 4to. 3. ^* De Turco»Pa«
piamo,'' or, on the resemblance between Mahometanism
and Popery, London, 1599, 4to. 4. *^ De Purgatorio, ad«
versus Beliarminum," the same year, 4to. 5. ^' De vera
Christie Ecclesia," 1600, 4to. 6. *^ De Missa, adversus Bel«
larininum," 1603, 4to. 7. << The Laws of Armes,'' 1593,
4to. 8. ^f Examination of Cartwright's Apology," 1596,
4to ; and many other works, enumerated in the Bbdleiaa
eHialogue, of the controversial kind, against Bellarminj
Parsons, Garnet, and other popish propagandists.
But. what has rendered Dr. butclitfo most celebrated was
bis project for establishing.a college o^ polemical divines^
to be employed in opposing the doctrines of papists and
*^ Peiagianizing Armtuians^ and others, that draw towards
popery and Babylonian slavery, &c.'' And as this college
has been incidentally mentioned in various parts of these
volumes, we shall now give part of the succinct and per-*
spicuous account furnished by Mr. Lysons.
At first the undertaking seemed attended with good
omens : prince Henry was a zealous friend to it: the king
consented to be deemed the founder, called the- college
after his own name, *^ King James's college at Chelsea^^
endowed u with the reversion of certain lands at Chelsea^
which were fixed upon for its site, laid the first stone <tf
the buddmg, gave timber out of Windsor forest, ismed his
royal letters to encourage his subjects throughont the.kingb
dom to contribute towards the completion of the stsociurn
and as a. permanent endowment, procured an act of parliiif
meUt to enable the college to raise an annual rent, by stip3t
}»lyii»^<tbe City of Loodon with water from the river Leal
\i ftppeafs by the charter of ntcorporatioo, dated. May t^
1610, that the college consisted of a provost and twenty
ftHcfwi^, eighteen of whom were required to'^be in holy
' Qrders; the other two, who might be either laj^ men or
S8 SUTCLIFFE.
/
divines, were to be employed in writing tte annals of tbei^
limes. Sutclifie himself was t-be first provost; Camden
^ and Haywood the first historians ; and among the felio^s
we find the well-kn^n names of Overall, Morton, Field,
Abbot, Hovvsoii, Spencer, Boys, &c. When a vacancy
bappened in any department, the successor was to be no-
noinatedand recommended by the vice-chancellor and heads
of colleges in the two universities, and approved by the
archbishop of Canterbury, the chancellor of each univer-*
"sity, and the bishop of London. The charter granted the
college the power of using a common seal ; 4rarious privi*
leges and immunities, and licence to possess lands in mort-
main to the vali!ie of 3(>00/. per ann.
With these good omens Dr. SutcliflFe began to erect tfa^e
college at his own expence, and built one side of the first
quadrangle: *^ which long range alone (says Fuller) made
not of free-stone, though of free -timber, cost, Othe dear-
Dess of college and church work I full three thousand
pounds.** Such was the progress of the work at Sutcliffe'^
death, who, by his will, dated Nov. t, 1628, bequeathed
to the college the greater part of his estates, consijsting of,
lands in Devonshire, the benefit of an extent on sir Lewis
Stukeley's estates valued at more than SOOO/., a share in the
great Neptune (a ship at Whitby in Yorkshire), at enemeni
at Stoke Rivers, and other premises^ all his books and
goods in the college, and a part of his Hbrary at Exeter;
but all these bequests were subject to this proviso, ^^ if the
Wttrk of the college should not be hindered."
The total failure of pecuniary resources soon proved a
very eifectual hindraBce to any farther progress iir this un-
dertaking. The national attention had been so much en-
gaged \>y the extensive repairs of St. Paulas cathedral, that
the college saw little hopes of success from the circulation
of the king's letters for the purpose of promoting a public
contribution; and at the time of his death no collectiona
bad been made under their sanction. The success of sir
HughMiddietoa'sproject for supplying London with water,
which took place the very year after the act of parliament
in favour of the college, and the total inability of ita mem-
bers to avail themselves of the privileges they enjoyed, for
want of money to carry on such an undertaking, destroyed
all hopes of advantage from that source. Of ail Dr. Sut-
diffe's .benefitfctions, the college never possessed more
than a house and premises, worth about 3.4>/. per anauait
the greater part of which yvas expended in repairs.
SUTCLIFFE.
33
After SotclifiFe^s detth, Dr. Featly (sec Featly), who
was recommended by the dean, as his successor,^ becaipie
provost; but so little was the original intention of the in*
stitution regarded, even at this early period, that one.
Richard Dean, a young ^merchant, was made one of the
fellows. Such was the state of the foundation, when the
court of chancery, in 163], decreed that Dr. Sutcliffe'a
estates should revert to the right heirs, upon th(?ir paying:
to the college the sum of 34Q/. Under these difficulties^,
which were afterwards increased by a dispute with lord
Monson about the lease of the land on which the college,
stood, no farther progress,N it may be supposed, was evef
made in the building. That part which was already com*
pleted>' consisted of a library, and a few rooms, :Occupied
by the provost and two fellows. For the subsequeot re**
verses which this project met with, as they are not con-
nected with the suhj;ect of our memoir, .we jrefer to our
authorities. On the site is now the Royal Hospital foe'
soldiers*^
SUTTON (Richard), the co-founder of Brasen-nose
college, Oxford, descended from the ancient family of the
Sut^cnis of Sutton near Macclesfield in tbe<county palatiea
of Chester, was the younger son of sir William Sutton^
koight. Of the tiqae or. place of his birth, we have no oer^*
^uii account, nor whether he was educated in the*univer«
sity to which he became so bountiful a beoefactor. He
practised as a barrister of the Inner Temple, and probably
with success. In 1490 he purchased some estates in Lei<<
cestershire, and afterwards fncreased his bnded property iu
different couaties. In 1498, if not earlier, he wasa mem«
her of Henry Vllth's privy council, and attended the courl
for many years after. In 1 505, he was one of the govern
Qors of the Inner Temple, and was in other years choseu'to
this annual offijoe.
It is uncertain at what time be became steward of the
monastery of Sion near Brentford in Middlesex, but ke
occurs in. this* office in* 1513, and had johambecs in the mo^
oastery, where be frequently resided. Besides bestowing
estates and money on this religious bouse, he borotbe ex*
pense of publishiug a splendid, and aow very, rare book»ia
honour of the house, called <^ The Orcbarde of Syon.'^. -
..'' 1 I. '"•* "*
*' Coolers Catalogue of Civilians.— Fuller's Cb. HistW.— ^ysons'5 Environs..
-^Faulkner's History of Chelsea. ^ ' **'* *
History
Vol. XXIX.
D
34 SUTTON.
' tn 1512, be was employed in purchasing the manor of
Pinchepolles in Farriiigdon, Berkshire, with lands in Watt**
brook and Farnbam in that county, which were given by
Mrs. Morley, and constituted the first permanent benefac-
tion bestowed on Brasen^nose college. He appears to have
received the honour of knighthood in 1 522, about two years
before his death, but the exact time of the latter event ia
not known. As an annual commemoration of him is oh*
served by the society on the Sunday after Michaelmas, it
may be inferred that he died about that time.^ His will,
drawn up March 16, 1523-4^ was proved November 7,
1524 ; and he is supposed to have been buried, either at
Macclesfield, tjr in the monastery of Sion. His bequests
are almost all of the religious or charitable kind. To these
scanty niemoirs we may add, in the grateful language of
his biographer, that, ^^ Unmarried himself, and not anxious
to aggrandize his family, which had long ranked among
the best in a county justly proud of its ancient gentry, sir
Richard Sutton bestowed handsome benefactions and kind
remembrances' among his kinsmen; but he wedded the
public, and made posterity his heir. An active coadjutor
from the first to the bishop of Lincoln in laying the foun-
dation of Brasen-nose college, he completed the building,,
revised the laws, and doubled the revenues of the growing
^minary, leaving it a perpetual monument of the 4:onso-
hdated wisdom and joint munificence of Smyth and of
Sutton."
' The estates given by sir Richard Sutton were, the manor
of Burgh or Borawe or Erdeborowe, ia the parish of So-»
merby in the county of Leicester, and other estates in the
same parish and neighbourhood ; an estate in the parish of
St. Mary, Strand, London, which in 1673 was sold to the-
commissioners for enlarging the streets after the great fire,
for the sum of 1700/. and with this an estate was purchased
at Burwardescot or Burscot 4n Oxfordshire, which has re*
, cently been exchanged for other lands at Stanford in the
vale of Wfiite Horse. He gave also the manor of Cropredy
in the county of Qxford, and certain lands there, and an
estate in North Ockington or Wokyndon, in the county of
Essex. All these sir, Richard granted to the college by
lease, July 18, 1519, and on Not. 29th following, by a
conveyance under his own hand and seal, he released them
to the society for ever.'
A Churton's LiTei of the Fottiidecs.--Chalmerft's Hipt. of Oiford*
SUTTON. , S5
SUTTON . (Thomas), foandfflr of the Charter-boase
school and ' hospital, was descended of the ancient family
of the Suttons of Lincolnshire^ atid was born at Knaith, in .
that county, in 153^. He received the first part of his
education at Eton school, whence it is supposed he was
sent to Cainbridgp, and matriculated of St. John's college,
Nov. 27, 1551, but this seems very doubtful, at least there
is no direct proof, and his being afterwards a. benefactor to
Magdalen and Jesus colleges ^ould incline us tp give them
the preference, but his name does not occur in the registers
of either. He is said to have removed afterwards to Lin-
coln^s-inn, for the study of the law ; but this not suiting
his disposition, 'or what we think extremely probable, his
father, and perhaps himself, inclining to the reformation,
he evaded the miseries of queen Mary's reign, by employ*
log almost the whole of that disastrous period in travelling
on the continent.
His father Richard Sutton, steward of the courts in Lin«
qdn, died in that city in 1558, and his son, on bis return
home in 1562, found himself in possession of considerable
property. He was now about thirty years of age, and rec*
koned an accomplished gentleman. He was first retained
by the duke of Norfolk, whose favours he acknowledges in
his will by a legacy of 400/. ; and afterwards became se-
cretary to the earl of Warwick, and Occasionally also to his
brother the earl of Leicester. In 1569, the earl of War-
wick being master-general of the ordnance, appointed Mr.
Sutton master of the ordnance at Berwick, a post of great
trust at that time, Berwick being a frontier garrison "to Scot-
laud. In this situation he distinguished himself much on
the breaking out of the rebellion in the north by the earls
of Northumberland and Westmoreland ; and by the re-
cotmneudatkin of his two patrons, he obtained a patent the
same year for the office of master-general of the ordnance
in the north, for life; and in 1573, he commanded one of
the five batteries, which obliged the strong castle of Edin-
bulrgh to sui'render to the English. It is probable, that,
as master-geoeral of the ordnance, he attended the earl of
Sussex, president of .the North, into Scotland, with an
army in 1570^ though he is not expressly named iu Cam-
den's annals for that yean But in 1573, he is named as
one of the cbi<$f of. those 1500 men who marched into
Scotland to the assistance of the regent, the earl of Mor-
. ■ D 2
36 SUTTON.
ton^ by order of queeti Elizabeth, and laid siege to Edlfi*
burgh castle.
While thus employed in oiiiitary affairs, k appears that
be made a very considerable accession of fortune, by pur*
chasing of the bishop of Durham the manors of Gateshead
and Wickbani, with their valuable coaUmines, and in 157<>
obtained a lease from the crown for the term of seventy*
nine years : and this speculation was so successful^ that in
ten years afterwards he was reputed to be worth 50,000/.
a very great sum in those days. He was not less successful
in 1582, when some time after his return to London, he
married Elizabeth, daughter of John Gardiner, esq. of
Grove-place in the parish of Chalfont St. Giles in Bucking-
hamshire, and widow of John Dudley of Stoke Newington
in Middlesex, esq. a near relation of the earl of Warwick.
By this lady he had a considerable estate, and a moiety of
the manor of Stoke Newington, where he resided as his
country house. In the city about the same time he pur-
chased a large house near Broken Wharf, Thames-street,
where he began the business of merchant, and with such
skill and success, that' he was soon considered as at the
head of his profesMon, and had vast concerns abroad.
These last he contrived to be of importance even to his
country, for when the design of the Spanish armada was
first discovered by sir Francis Walsingham, Mr. Sutton had
a chief hand in so draining the bank of Genoa, as to im-
pede the Spanish monarches supplies, until England had
time to prepare her defence. Mr. Sutton was likiiwise one
of the chief victuallers of the navy, and is thought to have
been master of the bark called Sutton of 70 tons and SO
Qien, one of the volunteers which attended the English
fleet against the Armada in 1588. He is likewise said to
have been a commissioner for prizes under lord Charles
Howard, high admiral of England, and going to sea with
letters of marque, he took a Spanish ship worth 00,000^^
In 1590, having married his wife's daughter by Mr. Dud-t
ley, to Francis Popham, esq. son and heir to the lord chief
justice of that name, and being now without any children^
or prospect of any by Mrs. Sutton, he gradually quitted bu-
siness and London, and resided at one or other of his coun-
try seats, for he had now purchased seTeral estates. He
also in 15^4 surrendered his patent of master of the ordi
nance in the north, and. about the same time conveyed in
trust all his estates in Essex to found an hospital at HoU
SUTTON, 37
Irng^Ury Bouchers iti tbatcounty, but with a power of re«
vocation during life, which actually took place, when he
mediiated his greater foundation of the Charter-house. In
1602 his wife died at Balsham in Cambridgeshire, where he
l^aci for some time resided with great splendour. She ap*
pears to have been a woman of great good sense, arfd to
have contributed so much to his comfort, . that after her
death, he b^an to wean himself from the world, reduced
his household establishment, and lived in a comparatively
private manner.
The disposition of his great property towards some cba-^
ritable purpose seems now to have engrossed all his thoughts.
Fuller, gives it as a well-authenticated fact, that ^' Mr. Sut-
ton used often to repair into a private garden, where be
poured forth his prayers to God, and was frequently over-
heard to use this expression, ' Lord, thou hast given me a
large and liberal estate, give me also a heart to make use
thereof.' " A man of his property, hesitating only how he
was to dispose of it in his life-time, could not be long without
advisers. It appears indeed to have been a general topic
of curiosity, in what planner Mr. Sutton would beatow bis
wealthi, and in 1608 a very singular instance of impertinent
interference occurred. At that time a report was spread
that be meant to leave his vast property to the duke of
York, afterwards Charles I.; and. in order tq confirm bim in
this resolution, a peerage was to be offered to him. This
repon, and the mean trick of the peerage, so revolting to
an independent mind, he traced to sir John Harrington,
who defended himself but weakly. The matter, however^i
rested there. Among advisers of a better kind, was the
pious and worthy Hall, afterwards bishop of Norwich, who
wrote to biin a long letter, exciting him to come to some
determination respecting his intended charity. This pro-
bably was successful, as it certainly was acceptable, for
soon after the receipt of it, he abandoned bis design of
building an hospital in Essex, and purchased of the earl of
Sufiblk, Howard- house, the late dissolved Charter-house
near Smithfield, for the sum of 1 3,000/. and upou that in
1611 founded the present hospital, and endowed it with
the bulk of bis property. He intended to have been him-
self the first master, but soon after the foundation, being
seized with a slow fever, and perceiving his end to ap-
. proach, be executed a deed, nominating the Rev. John
Hutton, vicar of Littlebury in Essex, to that office. He
38 SUTTON.
died at Hackney Dec. 12, 1611, and was interred wiik
great magnificence in the chapel of the Charter- boose,
where a monument was erected to his memory. At his
death he was the richest untitled subject in the kingdom,
having in land 5000A a year, and in money upwards of
60,000/. His will contains many individual legacies of the
charitable kind. Soon after his death, his nephew, Simon
Baxter, to whom he left an estate worth 10,000/. and 300/*
in money, all which he squandered away, made an ineffee*
tual attempt to set aside the will ; the matter was brought
to a fair hearing, and in 1613 it was determined that the
foundation, incorporation, and endowment of the hospital
was sufficient, good, and effectual in law« This attempt of
Baxter^s was much censured at the time, and it is to be
regretted that much of the odium fell on sir Francis (after-
ward lord) Bacon, then solicitor- general^ who was his chief
adviser.
Of Mr. Sutton's personal character, we are told, that ''he
was strong-built and compact, of a middle stature, with a
good complexion and agreeable mien ; neither nice nor
negligent in his apparel, but modest and clean, enjoying a
good state of health till the decays of old age broke in upon
it. He was a very affectionate tender husband, an exact
but kind master, a good natured honest man, sober and re-
ligious both at home and abroad, very compassionate and
very grateful." As a public benefactor, Sutton deserves to
• be held in honourable remembrance, and it is pleasing to
reflect that his design has never been interrupted or im-*
peded by improper administration, and that few schools
have produced men of more eminence as teachers or
scholafs. '
SUWORROW, or, as pronounced, SUVOROFF, RIM-
NIKSKI (Count Alexander), an eminent Russian gene-
ral, of an ancient Swedish family, was born in 1730, or as
some think in 1732, and was originally intended for the
profession of the law. His inclinations, however, leading
him to the army, he entered as a private in 1742, and in
1754 had attained the rank of lieutenant. He made his
first campaign in the seven years war against the Prussians
in 1759, and entered upon actual service under' prince
Wolgonski. He marched against the Prussians with the
rank oflfirst major ; and was at the battle of Kimnersdorf,
1 Life by Bearcroft.— Hearne'fl ** Domus Carthasiana."— Biog. Brit.— Mal-
colm's Ltndiniam RediviTam, vol. I.—- ^uHer^s Worthies.
8 U W O II R O W. 39
and at the taking of Berlin. He this campaign signalized
himself by many acts of valour, until the year 1762, when
a truce was made between Prussia and Russia, which was
followed by a peace. Although he was attached to the in-
fantry service, count Romanzow presented him at the gene-
ral promotion as colonel of cavalry, from his superior know-
ledge in that department of the army ; but there were cer-
tain obstacles which caused that line of promotion to be
abandoned. Soon after, the count Panin, who commanded
in Pomerania, sent him to Petersburgh with an account of
the return of the troops. On this occasion be gave him a
special letter of recommendation to the empress, who pre-
aented him a coloners commission, written with her own
hand.
In August 1762 he was appointed colonel of the regi-
ment of infantry of Astracan, which was in garrison at.
Petersburgh ; and when the ceremonial of her coronation
called the empress to Moscow, she ordered him to remain
at Petersburgh, where she charged him with the execution^
of some very important commissions. After her return, his
regiment was sent to distant service, and was replaced by
the infantry of Susdal, consisting of more than a thousand
men, of which he received the command in 1763. In au-
tumn of the following year he went into garrison at Ladoga.
In 1768 he was advanced to the rank of brigadier; and as
the war was just commenced against the cori federates of
Poland, he was ordered to repair with all speed to the fron-
tiers of that kingdom in the course of November, and in
the most unfavourable season of the year. During the
winter he was continually engaged in improving his regi-
ment in their manoeuvres, and habituating them to every
action that would be required, and every circumstance that
might happen in a state of actual service. In the follew-
ing summer of 1769 these troops were stationed on the
frontiers of Poland, from whence they were sent to War-
saw, a march of eighty German miles, which he completed
in twelve days. He overcame Kotelpowski, near Warsaw,'
and defeated and dispersed the troops commanded by the
two Pulawskis. He afterwards took up his quarters at Lub-
lin ; and the Russian army in Poland requiring the estab-
lishment of four major-generals, he was advanced to that
rank on the 1st of January, 1770.
In the middle of the summer, when colonel Moschinski
had gained a jreinfercement, our general gained a second
40 SUWOHROW.
victory over him ; and in the autumn of the same year he
attempted an operation on the Vistula, but from the rapi-
dity of the current he missed the pontoon in leaping from
.the bank, and falling into the river, was in gr^at danger of
.being drowned. After many fruitless attempts^to save him,
a grenadier at length seized a lock of his hair, and drew
))im to the bank ; but in getting out of the water he structc
.his breast against a pontoon, which caused a violent coti«
tusion, that threatened his life, and from which he did not
recover for several months. Towards the end of the year
,the empress sent him the order of St. Anne.
We shall not detail all the various exploits of the gener
ral; it will be sufficient to take notice of the principal of
them. He afterwards fought and beat the army of the cour
federates under Pulawski and Nowisi, and the empress con-
ferred on him the order of St. George of the third class, as
a testimony of the satisfaction she had received from bis
services. A second confederation being formed in Lithuar
Ilia, the general again defeated the army under Oginski ;
and this victory was considered so important that the em-r
press sent him, as conqueror of the grand marshal, the or-
der of Alexander. This victory was obtained on the 1 Ith
of September, 1771. *
The confederates soon after surprized Cracow, which
obliged Suworrow to hasten and blockade the place. After
some time it capitulated. On this occasion he shewed his
magnanimity to Mons. Choisi, on« of the French officers,
to whom he said, on being offered his sword, "I cannot
receive the sword of a gallant man in the service of a king,
who is the ally of my own sovereign." Tranquillity was
soon ^fter restored to Poland, where Suworrow served du-
ring four years withoi|t interruption. Independent of the
nuxnerous inferior actions and multiplied skirmishes, in
which his courage was always displayed, and his military
capacity never failed to appear; he was covered with glory
by the victory of Stalowiz and the capture of Cracow:
which gave the promise of that brilliaat career that he
.afterwards run.
In September 1772 he was attached to the corps ofge-
^neral. Elippt, ordered to Finland by the way of Petersburg,
where he arriyed in the winter. In Feb. 1773, he was em-
ployed in inspecting the frontiers of Finland, where he
heard every complaint^ and made every necessary commu-
nication to redress them. Towards the spring the congress
S U W O E H O W, 41
of the Turks at Soczan separated ; the truce was at an end^
and it appeared as if war would be rekindled. Our gene->
ral now received orders to join the army in Moldavia, where
be served under tield marshal Roymanzow. The years 1773
and 1774 included the first Turkish war. In ]Vlay 1773 be
arrived at Jassy, and received a command. He. then passed
the Danube, and defeated the Turks atTurtukey. On this
victory he dispatched an account to marshal Romanzow, iii
the following terms :
** Honour and glory to God ! Glory to you Romanzow J
We are in possession of Turtukey, and I am in it.
"^UWORROW.'*
As a recompence for this victory the empress transmitted
to him the cross of the order of St. George. During the
reoiainder of the war, which was of short continuance, Su-
worrow was constantly engaged and constantly successful ;
and after the peace was ordered to Moscow, to assist in ap-
peasing the troubles occasioned by the famous rebel Pu-
gatcbefF, whom he took prisoner, For several years after
this Suworrow was employed in the Crimea, on the Cu«
ban, and against the Nogay Tartars, in a kind of ser«
vice which, however important to the empress, furnished
no opportunities for that wonderful display of promptitude
and resource which bad characterised his more active cam-
paigns.
In the end of the year 1786, Suworrow was promoted to
the rank of general-in-chief ; and at the breaking out of the
war with the Turks in 1787, he shewed how well he Was
entitled to that rank, by his masterly defence of Kinburn;
a place of no strength, but of great importance, as it is si-
tuated at the mouth of the Dneiper, opposite to Oczakow.
At the siege of Oczakow he commanded the left wing of
the army under prince Potemkin, and was dangerously
wounded. In 1789, be was appointed to the command of
the army which was to co-operate with the prince of Saxe
Cobourgin Walachia, and on the 22d of September, gained,
in conjunction with that prince, the memorable victory of
Rymnik, over the Turks, dne of the greatest that has ever
been achieved. According to the least exaggerated ac-'
counts, the Turkish army amounted to 90,000 or 100,000
men, while that of the allies did not exceed 25,000. The
carnage was dreadful, no quarter having been given to the
Turks, and on this account the Russian general has been
charged with savage barbarity. It is said, however, that
4« BUWORROW:
the commanders of the allied army, aware of the immensii
foperiority of their enemies, had resolved, before the en-
gagement, not to encumber themselves with prisoners, whom
they could not secure without more than hazarding the fate
of the day. The taking of Bender and Belgrade were the
immediate consequences of the victory of Rymnik, for bis
share in which Suworrow was created a count of the Roman
empire by the emperor Joseph, and by his own sovereign,
a cou^t of the empire of Russia with the title of Rymnik«
ski, and the order of St. Andrew of the first class.
His next memorable exploit was the taking of Ismailow
in 1790, which he accomplished after a most furious assault
in about eleven hours. In this dreadful space of time, the
Ottomans lost 33,000 men killed or dangerously wounded :
10,000 who were taken prisoners: besides 6000 women and
children, and 2000 Christians of Moldavia, who fell in the
general massacre. The plunder was immense ; but Suwor-*
row, ^ho was inaccessible to any views of private interest,
did not appropriate to himself a single article, not so much
as a horse, of which about 10,000, many extremely beau*
tiful, were fbund in the place. Having, accofding to his -
custom, rendered solemn thanks to God for his victory, he
wrote to prinbe Potemkin the following Spartan letter ;
** The Russian colours wave on the ramparts of Ismailow.^'
Peace being concluded with the Turks in December
1791, no political events occurred from that period to call
forth the tnilitary talents of Suworrow till 1794, when he
was sent to disarm the Poles in Red Russia, as a step to-
wards the partition of Poland then concerted between the
empress, the emperor, and the king of Prussia. He after-
Wards stormed and took Praja, with immense slaughter,
and Warsaw having consequently capitulated, the king-
dom of Poland was overturned. Suworrow's character has
suffered by the conduct of the taking of Praja as well as
that of Ismailow; but it is not our purpose to enter into a
discussion on the subject, still less on the policy of the
partition of Poland. Suworrow never appears to have en-
tered into the niceties of political deliberation. He was a
mere soldier who obeyed the commands of his superiors,
and we have every reason to think, tempered them with as
much lenity as the difficult circumstances in which he was
frequently placed, would admit. For his services in Po^
land, the empress advanced him to the rank of field-marsh&l-
general, loaded him with jewels^ and presented him with
S U W O R R O W, 4S
an estate of 7000 peasants, in the district of Kubin, which
had been the scene of his first batite iii the course of this
campaign.
From the subjugation of Poland we hear little more of
Suworrow, until he entered upon his career in Italy, when
the emperor Paul, who had succeeded his mother on the
throne of Russia, joined in the confederacy against France
in 1799, He assumed the command of the combined army
of Russians and Austrians, and such was his success that
the French lost, one after another, all the principal towns
in the north of Italy, and were defeated in the bloody bat**^
tie of Novi. After that action, Suworrow crossed the Alps,
and marched into Swisserland, driving the French from
mount St. Gothard. But here bis gallant career was inters
rupted by the defeat of another division of the Russians,
who were attacked by the French general Massena near
Zurich, and obliged to cross the Rhine intp Germany.
This disaster, with the failure of the expected aid from the
Austrians, obliged Suworrow, who was opposed by Moreau,
to commence a fighting retreat towards the lake of Con-*
stance; and after prodigious exertions of valour, he arrived
there with a much diminished army, and effected a junction
with the remainder of the troops that had been defeated by
Massena. He was now recalled home, and under the pres-
sure of fatigue, vexation, and fever, reached Petersburgh,
where he soon fell into a childish state, and died May IS,
1800<i His capricious master is said to have displayed his
resentment by refusing the usual military honours to his re-
mains, and even deprived his son of his rank of major-ge-
neral. The present emperor Alexander, however, repaired
t]iis injustice to the memory of an officer so brave and faith-
ful, by erecting his statue in xhe imperial gardens. Ano-
ther account says that Paul, although he endeavoured to
disgrace Suworrow at the end of his life, ordered him. a.
magnificent funeral.
In his person Suworrow was tall, considerably exceeding
six feet, and full chested. - His countenanqe was" stern ;
but among his friends his manners were pleasant, and his
dispositions were kind. His temper was naturally violent;,
but that violence he constantly laboured to moderate, though
he was never able completely to extinguish it. According
to Mr. Antbing, an effervescent spirit of impatience pre«
dominated in his character; and it perhaps never happened
(says that author) that the execution of his orders equalled
44. ^ U W O R R O W.
the rapidity of his wishes. Though he di^lik^d all pubUc:
^tUeriainnientSy yet when circumstaiuses led him to any of
them, he appeared to partake, and endeavoured to promote,
the general pleasure. Sometimes he condescended even
to dance and play at card's, though very rarely, and merely
that he might not interrupt the etiquette of public man*
ners, to which, when, not in the field, he was very attentive.
In the field he may be said to have spent the whole of hia
life from the period at which he first joined the army in the
seven years^ war ; for during the time he was not engaged
in actual warfare, and that tio^e, taken altogether, did not
exceed twelve years, he was always placed at the head of
armies stationed on the frontier of some en^my^s country*
He was therefore a mere warrior, and as such had no fixed
habitation. With respect to his (able and lodging,, bei
contented himself with whatever he found, requiring no-
thing but what absolute necessity demands, and what might
be transpprted with ease from one place to another. His
couch poDsisted of a heap of fresh hay sufficiently elevated^
anc^ scattered into considerable breadth, with a white sheet
spread over it, a. cushion for his pillow, and a cloak for his
coverlid. For the last twenty years of his life, he never
made use of a looking-glass, or incumbered his person with
either watch or money.
He was sincerely attached to the religion of his country,
and a strict observer of its rites, which he.. equally strictly
enjoined on all under his command. His biographer as*
sures us that from his earliest years he was enamoured of
the sciences, and improved himself in them ; but as the
military science was the sole object of his regard, those
authors of every nation who investigate, illustrate, or im-r
prove it, engrossed his literary leisure. Hence Cornelius
Nepos was ivith him a favourite classic ; and he read, with
great avidity and attention, the histories of Mohtecuculi
and Turenne. Cssar, however, and Charles XII. were
the heroes whom he most admired, and whose activity and
courage became the favourite objects of his imitation. The
love of his country, and the ambition to contend in arms
for its glory, were the predominant passions of his active
life ; and to them he sacrificed every inferior sentiment,
and consecrated all the powers of his body and.mind.^
SUZE, Countess. SeeCOUGNI.
1 H»tory^ of his Campaigns by Anthiog.— -Encycl. Britao.
SWAMMEItDAM. ♦«
i
' SWAMMERDAM (John), an eminent naturaliiBt and
anatomisty was born at Amsterdam in 1637, where bit fa«
ther was an apothecary, and had a museum of natural hifr*
lory. He intended his son for the church, and with this
view gare him a classical education, but the boy prevailed
upon him to let him apply to physic. He was therefore
kept at home, till he should be properly qualified to en-
gage in that study, and frequently employed in cleaaiog,
and arranging the articles of his father's collection. From
this occupation be acquired a taste for natural history, ^nd
soon began to form a museum of his own. Entomology
having particularly struck his fancy, he became indefi^tt-
gable in discovering, catching, and examining, the flying
insects, not only in the province of Holland, but in those
of Goeldreland and Utrecht. In 1661 he went to Leydeti,
to pursue his studies, which he did with so much success,
that, in 1663, he was admitted a candidate of physic, after
undergoing the examinations prescribed on that occasion.
On his arrival at Leyden, he contracted a friendship with
the great anatomist^ Nicolas Steno, and ever after lived
with him in intimacy.
The arcana of anatomy now exciting his curiosity,, one
of his first objects was to consider how the parts of the
body, prepared by dissection, could be preserved in a state
for anatomical demonstration ; and in this he succeeded^
as he had done before in his nicer contrivances to dissect
and prepare the minutest insects. After this, he made a
journey into France, where he spent some time at Saumur
with Tanaquil Faber, and made a variety of observations
upon insects. From Saumur be went to Paris, in 1664,
where he lived in the same house with his friend Steno.
He likewise contracted an intimacy with Thevenot, who
strenuously recommended him to Conrad Van Beuningen,
a senator and burgomaster of Amsterdam, and at that |ime
that republic's minister at the court of France : Beuningen
obtained leave for Swammerdam, at his return home, to
dissect the bodies of such patients as should happen to die
in the hospital of that city.
He returned to Leyden to take his degrees ; and took the
occasion of his stay there to cultivate a friendship with Van
Home, who had been formerly his preceptor in anatomy.
It was at this time, Jan. 1667, that in Van Home's house,
Swammerdam first injected the uterine vessels of a human
subject with ceraceous matter,, which most useful art he
46 S W A M M E R D A M*
afterwardf brottght to great perfection. la February the
same year, he was admitted to bis degree as doctor of pby«
sic, after having publicly maintained his thesis on respira-*
tion; which was then conceived only in short and con-
tracted arguments, but appeared soon after with consider-
able additions, with a dedication to Thevenot. It was thus
that &wammerdam cultivated anatomy with the greatest art
and labour, in conjunction with Van Home ; but a quartan
ague, which attacked him this year, brought him so very
low, that he found himself under a necessity of discon*
tinuiog these studies ; which, on his recovery, he entirely
neglected, in order to give himself up to his favourite pur*
suit of entomology. *
In 1668, the grand duke of Tuscany being then in Hoi-'
land with Mr. Thevenot, in order to see the curiosities of
the. country, came to view those of Swammerdam and his
father ; and on this occasion, our author dissected some
insects in the presence of that prince, who was struck with
admiration at his uncommon dexterity in handling those
minute objects, and especially at his proving, that the fu-r
ture butterfly lies with ail its parts neatly folded up in a
caterpillar; by actually removing the integuments that
cover the former, and extricating and exhibiting all its
parts, however minute, with incredible ingenuity, and by
ineans of instruments of an inconceivable fineness. On
this occasion his highness o£Fered him 12,000 florins for his
share of the collection, provided he would remove them
into-Tuscany, and live at the court of Florence ; but Swam-
merdam, from religious motives, as well as a dislike of a
court life, declined the proposal. He now coiitinued-his
researches into the nature and properties of insects, and in
1669, he published a general history of them, a work which
afterwards proved the lasting monument of his talents.
But, in the mean time his father resenting his neglect of
his profession, endeavoured to recall him to it by refusing
him any pecuniary aid. This induced him at last to pro-
^ mise to resume his profession ; but, as he had injured his
health by the closeness of his studies, a retirement to the
country for some time was* requisite that he might recover
" his strength," and return to his business with new force and
« spirits. He was, however, scarcely settled in his country
retirement, when, in 1670, he relapsed into his former
occupation. Thevenot, in the mean time, informed of the
disagreement betweeji Swammerdam and bis father^ did
3WAMMERDAM. 47
a)l thftt lay in his pawer to engage tbe former to retire into
France, and probably some amicable arrangement mi^bt
have been made, had not Swammerdam, in 1673, formed
ft connection with the then famous Antonia Bourignen, and
became totally absorbed in all ber mystieitm and devout
reveries. After this he grew altogether careless of the
pursuits in which he bad so much delighted, and withdrew
himself in a great measure from the world, and followed
and adopted all the enthusiasms of Antonia. In this per*
s.uasion he neglected his person, wasted away to the figure
of a skeleton by his various acts of mortification, and died
at Amsterdam in 1680. ,
Tbe works of thi& celebrated anatomist and naturalist,
are, 1. *^ Tractatus Physico-Anatomico-Medicus de Respi-
ratione," Leyden, 1667, 1677» and 1679, in 8vo, and 17aS,
4tou 2. ^< General History of Insects,*' Utrecht, 1669, 4to,
in Dutch, but published there in 1685, 4to, in French, and
at Leyden, in Latin, 1685, with fine engravings. 3* ^< Mi-
taculum Naturae, seu, uteri muliebris fabrica," Leyden^
1672, 1679, 1717, 1729, 4 to,, with plates. He was im->
polled to this publication by Van Horne, who bad claimed
9ome of bis discoveries. 4. '^ Historta Insectorum gene*
ralis; adjicltur diluctdatio, qu& specialid cnjusFis ordittis
exempla figuris accuratissimd, tarn uaturali magnitudine,
quam ope microscopii aucta, illustrantur,'* Leyd. 1733,
4to. This translation of his history of insects is by Hen-
pinius, but the best edition of this valuable work is that
which appeared at Leydeu^in 1737, 2 vols, folio, under the
title '* Biblia Naturae, sive, Historia Insectorum in daises
certas reducta, &c.*' - The learned owe this to Boerhaave,
for the manuscript having been left by tbe author to his
executors, had been banded about till it was difficult to be
traced. Of this an English translation was published in
1757, folio, by sir John Hill and others, and with Boer*
baave*s plates.'
SWANEVELT '(Herman), an eminent Flemish land-
scape painter, was born in 1620, and is generally said to
have been the disciple of Gerard .Douw ; but he went very
young to Italy, and placed himself with Claude Lorraine,
and soon proved worthy of so distinguished a master. He
studied nature incessantly ; and very frequently, along with
Claude, observed the tingings of the morniog^light on tbe
I Life Vj[r Bo«riiMTe.-^BIojr* Diet.. Hist, dt M«d«ciB«.
4S S W A N E V E L T.
surfaces of different objects, on the monntains, rocks, trees,
skiesy and waters; and the various effects of light at noon
and evening; by which he was enabled to give his own',
works so much truth and nature, as wiH for ever render
them extremely estimable, and in his life-time they were .
sold for very high prices. He also enriched his ideas j»f,
frequenting the elegant remains of antiquity about Rome,,
and in that study spent all his leisure hours, and from his
rattted manner of life, although he was by birth a Fleming,
he was distinguished by the name of the Hermit of Italy.
The reputation whiefa his pictures procured him, and the \
demand he had for them, excited in some degree the jea^
lousy of Claude, which is a proof bow near he approached
him. He etched also in a bold, free, and mai^teriy style,
and ptdbtished, from his own designs, various sets of land-
scapes, amounting in all to one hundred and fourteen. He
died tn 1 6ao.'
8WEDENBORG (Emanuel), a Swedish entbVisiast, .
and the founder of a wel(«known; although, we t^iist^ de-
ctiniiig sect, was born ^t Stockholm Jan'. 2d, 1-6^9. ' His
fatb«r was;bishop of WHt Gotbia, and it may be supposed
that his eoucHion was g'ood, since be published a volunre *'
of Latin poetry when he was only twenty years old; TUe
titte was, **Ludtts Heliconios, siveOarmina IMfiscellanea,'
^use variis in lociscecinit.^' The same year he began 'hi%;
travels ; and having visited 'England, Hx)Hand| France, and,\
Germany, returned in 1714 to Stockholm^ wher6 t^o yeafft
after,' he was appointed by Cltarles'^II; assessor of 'ibe^t
metallsa cotlcge.- His studies during thi^'prart of 'hi^ life,'
were chiefly devoted to tnathemahcs and lit^tnral phtloso- '
phy ; wad'he was essentially useful to hrs king jby enabliti^ /
him to convey his heavy artillery by wat^r, Vh0re 'they '
could not. go by land* He publish^ abotit thh pWio'c^
xuany acientifical and philosophical works ; artd succeedin
to the favour of queen Ulrica Eleandra,' after'the death 6
Charles XIL was by her ennobled in 171'^; In ^ursuimcd^ *
of bis duty, as belonging to the metallic ct)Hegej he tra*
veiled to vie%v the mines, and then in^peeted also'itbe ma-'*
|)u6ictuKes of bis country.* In consequence of thts, he
pubU3bedi.several tracts on subjects ;felatrt{^ to tK'^ pfailb-' ,
sophy of die arts. He returned to.Sh>ckhohn'tri itl^^ and
divided: bis time between ' the duties'^f iih*afRce ind lAk
1 . ..• .' ...
t
I I
I ArftnTiUe, vol. |U.-Ml»ilklttgtoa iiid StralUl i :
8 W £ O £ N B O R <^. 49
fKittim sladies. In 173S, he had coaifdcted his great
MFork^ entitled ** Opera Phiiosopbica et Mineralta," which
WES piinted mider bia direction in 1734, partly At Dresden^
«nd partly at Leipsic. It forms 3 vols, foliar is iUustrateA
by: plates^ and is written with great strength ofi judgment*
In 1 7^, be bad heen admitted ii^o the society of sciences
at Upsal; and between that and 1724^ had received a
aimttar honour from the royal academy at Steckhokni and
that of Petefsburgb. He corresponded also with many
learned foreigners* But the time was now approaching
when all the desire of baron Swedenborg, for literary or
other worldly distinction^ was 'to be absoi^d in feelii^ of
• soblimer natore* Whether too intense an, application to
study had disordered^ or a natural tendency to enthusiasm
bad inflamed his mind, he conceived himself miraculously
called to the office of revealing the most hidden arcanv*
^'Itt the year 174V' ^^ '^P^ ^^ o^^ of his works, <<tbe
Lord was graciously plei^ed to manifest himself to me, tn
4t pcnoHidl uppemranct ; to open in me a sight of the spiri-
tual wdrld, and to enable me to converse with spirits and
angels ; and this privilege has continued with me to this
dlty.^^ From this time, he .devoted his ymry able pen to
aiicfa subjects as this most extraordinary state of mind sug*
geated^ He published, '' De cultu et Amore Bei," Lend.
1T4S, 4to; *< De telluribus in mundo nostro solari," 1758;
^ Oe Equo albo in Apocalypai,*' |758 ; << D^ nova Hiero-
aoljrmaj^* <^ De Ccelo et Inferno ;" ^^SapientiaangeUcfa d^
Dmna Promlentia," Amsterdam, 1764 \ ^^ Vera Christianfa
religio,^* Amat 1771; and piany other books. He parti^
colariy visited Amsterdam and London, where these ex^
travagant works were published, and where they have since
been tmuslated by his admirers. One of bis fancies about
the spiritual world is, that it admits not of space : yet' he
teUs us, that a man is so little changed after deaths that he
does not even know that be is not living in the present
world ; that he eats and drinks^ and even enjoys conjugal
ifelightB^ as in the present world; thai the resemblance
between the two worlds is ao great, that in the spiritual
there are cities, - palaces, houses, books, merchandise '&c.
&o«f-^UolverMl Theology, voL L p. 734. . ' This extraordi^
nary man died in London, March 29, 1771^; his remains
lay in state, and were afterwarda deposited in a vault in the
Swedish church near RadcIifF-highway.
Swedenborg was, in himself, a harmless^ ttiough a very
Vox. XXIX. E
M S W ED E N B O R 01
omidsrmueii progress daring. bis Hfey but is i¥>w.«»tabU9heKi
ia^Englaod, (tnnder ^betitie of Tha Nmv JtrjMUmn Qm^h.
JiiMia Mod .<of>ChrisU»nttyy ^modified aecovdiog^ta tb*
.whifw oi die nutlior; jacknowledging a Triiiiiy^ ,b«|l..i^t
«ili«ul]r in , thai 4ense 0f any other chiu^^ and >an jiqi^ in
A peculiars s^Btfe 9lso>; pretending tbat the spiritual «Qn$^ pf
iJur Soriptuccfi was oenrei ktioim till it waarev^^JM.io^Sw^'*'
(dflubprg. Tbft cMtiiuiad intarcoorsens^f apivils with meo it
iMft0ipaifit>Df>bt$ixk>ctriBe!; mth.many otber r^evierieftr ^'vtoii
inroald hardly appear to deceive npdoe, w^ereibsy i|o$ a^li
considered by many, as tbe nesnh 0I intpimiiGdl./ Thai
4tii»se4traag«>driii9ionft ibenld «ib$i<t in ^tiine:wib9li>trae
.#aitb bus wavered witlnou^ reasQn^/is.eiif^^actfndiiMtf)}^* ,1^ a
reasonable person^, the inspection oi any oive p^h\%, 9Ay^-r
.cal bMks seen^ a* suffieient presc^rvati^e ixwR^'uH^t^^^f^
Some of bi$ foUoiwerB i)a¥i h^m bold ^ enough <taM|^^^nt
h^m as a mm) wilhoiiife entbuiUMo)/ \ . [ t a \o
SWERT^ 4r SWERTIUS (*IaAl«ais)y.« FlemW&tAirto^
mn and aoiiquaiyy waa< bQrA.atiilnQpafp(inuli6^7v .^^
jlMLl^a^&Or>pafticl»Uf9:of bis. literary .,pr9gffQ^ vbi(i04og^$M
<diaracteii'lb>t:be iiras at mwti^i scie»i:e:aiid^l^imtngj>idfian
ihwaabid diflfM»ilionf>iandjCio6ii«ianally'^ <KiV>i^ 11
j»mi;qf ;btisinffla«j -Bp dieyotedAiinifd^ of ibW. Am^
jtpd.publiabcsi a^^reat msiiy vt^rksrwbi^biJM^Pglliii^bifEiiciin^,
jidamble. repuitaticui^ > Satiuis jm]^>ha idoasi not kM«i wJ^e^
lfa€»r be JBa«ii€i$bieHii! Uved; s]90^l jmr, b^ lSi^^i|tr,af
jaacbrimpoctanoe^; T?bi4i^ J bnoi^, (^at be:idom>i9pt(rfyp$»1^
iWrjr r^peielluJUfy^of otb^ hdi^a atid. tjic^t CQftip^l^y4jorH«
siqrs -of Jaousb<D6iisav4ibfiit^b0r^ :tbi/b.(iij)r^ ^i^ralttrn^d
.^eaaoA &i^ert badj'foriJMipg/iJiisisxpfesaioat ;8aiM}|tibra|^ht
hsm»,kni»wu ftoea ^^V^i^femua AodfrejSA* oj^fr^miFc^p^nifl^t
Jie>»iarrjed Suaanna^iVaii lErpr and hlHi^0rJawil^<'^i^^3^
y^bildcant R^.AmAiAh9itm^i'ml^2%y:»%^9^ .
jx'iiMv principal ?woi:fc« : are^ l« 'f NarjraiA^aesi j^^$9fki^ 4a
^jBormin* £)earum<|pM jcapi ta^. abi Oiielio ?w}gatftf P >}<9 V»l^t^
3lk$(^fl» 4tOk ; i^. f/ B^lgiiitotittii aiw X:Vili^pr^>ii4llPi»TOni
GeirnMiiM) iafenoriA.>breTia, iacicrip^iQr'' CiW^* .'i^t V4^«
ci4mflB in fudere iUx. On^Ui^ cuoivOrMUi v,iia,';i4i»ftbi?af«>^
4. " Meditationes J. Cardinalis de Turrecr^t^Mln^iin^vHEiiixi
^brisfci^ coin yita Card. .&^v! Cologn^ Ig^^^^i^SflifV 5>
V Hit works paisiiii.---£iicy«l. BcjtaiwiK^ Aic«
S W EiK t: ' 51
tii|»b^, iiYseriptidris &c. ' ibid. 1 m^, acii} 1 ^2^, «vb;^ -^^
^AlMunWitta Seffllchralia Birftb«r»tdie^^^ 'Anu 16 td; '8iro.
"1t< ^ NmeB in HieroHy«li Magit €^ie Timiftnabulift titellcitn
fsioslbdmuifvy/* 1608» and 1664^ ^o. ' ^^ *^ ftfusie eifv&rires
iii^ri Li^iH** A<tnv^: 1609, 4to. 9.^ ♦«^'FI<M!*s Liplialifj** ,
Cerfogn, ¥(?l4i «ffd 16110. lo, *^ AtheD» Selgio^,*** At)tw.
l6Sf8^fot^, a MTork on Ibe platif aod-itiitcti of it bon-owcid
fromi ^^tedm AMredR. To these Sftxitmadds ^^ iCenkn
^'B€%icariitn Ani^ies^ Obi'onjei et b)A(»Hcifatiti(|t]i>«t'rd(^<^'-
tiorei»,^* Fttinefon, 1690^ 3 tote foto>*^ > • ' i^ ' ' '
•■i^SWim^EWv SfecVAN SWIETBH.:'? I> - -
eelebrar^^'^iiltf^'f^'htspoVmcai Itnowtedge,' was de.^cdnded
frowti a Vel^r '«fkriiet|(k ftuiifityy and borb NoviiSQ, 1667. His
'gnivifS^Altb^jiMn ^otDi» Swift, • was mftv of Ooodridb in
'U^ii(miMit$i^^MiM;rrwd Mrsi. EHsateeirh* Dryden, atrht
of Dryden the poet; by-Mr4iom ht^had^'iiY ^ons,* Oodwiin,
T4ldmlK»»"Drydi^iV WttKum, Joiiatlitfn, ^d Adaii; Tfatima^
^-^i^s br€?d at OnfoMl, but'died 5^o«mg:; 'Go^miy' way a bar-
' i<^6^^f: Q^'04m \' flmd WilHamj Dryvkfi, ' 'Joqatbati; and
^(lAthia^iiwev^ aiTtdfritie^. Gbd^^id* hairiivg nialtied a relation
'; 4^4ihe ^&\Ai nmrdbibiiteira of Oritiond^ the old dul^-e of Orrnond
vriM^ hifitt^aN^toiriie^genanil ih > the p^lattnaia 9f< mppemry
4^ ^Imlitn^ 4f ^()d- Mrtfs f a« « Ws/ tt«f»e l^mcxsr WilHoilt iaWy er$|^
^^ ^d^i^'hftviag Goovertod'fxien of «H condittbnn into
^<^QMie]'s. ^Oddwin, thter^lbrcv detoi^mindd to aittarhpt thei
^' WtfUi^liim^ of a fotftune* in thai kin gdom^^and'Hbe u^me
tt)oti^«4t{dU)ced4ii^fcmr broib^ts to g6 witfb bfnti J<inatbanj,
'W^ib« a;g^ 4^f(-aboi»t-twenty^thi>efe, awd-befombd wetn to
''I#6tond, ma^Hed Mrs^ A<bigail Ei4dcy a gentlewonittti^pf
'^Irtttcestmibira ; amk abottftwo years after left ii^i* a widow"
'4Ub^^|i«bild,^a' daughter^ and pregnant with ano«b^r,
ba44ngi w»^nieana of iftubsistenee but an annniiy 0f "Sb^.
y/fMehilMt biM^mnd'had purciiased for her in l£ngfanid, im-
' inediM^y kf^f Us marriage. In t bt^ dmresft sbe wmi taken
lifir«d«lie f4xifi^<i{ &tiAMiu her btisbat^d's^etde^t bnodter;
'^iftlMftvttei'^^^qallot^t/' seven month* after his death, deliveped
'^i son, whom «he calted JonatUanv- itf t^membrancne^of
his fitMr, ahd who. waa afterwai^dW' the celebrated dean of
•8fc.^Patrf^k'tfL>" ^ •• - ■'"'''' ''■'' -'^''''^ '
fl'hiippened, byirbaUver accident that J^aaatban waa
&» SWIFT.
t>ot suckled hy bis mother, but by a nune^ wbo ma» a pm^
tive of Whitehaven ; and when be was about a year oldi
her affection for bim waa become so strong, jtbal, finding
it necessary to visit a sick relation there, me, <:arried him
with her, vi^itbout the knowledge of bis mother or uncle*
At this place he cootinued abmit three years^ for^ wbea
the matter was discovered, his mother sent ordf rs nol to
hazard a second voyage, till he shoiald be better able to
bear it. Mrs. Swift, about two years after her huibapd't
-death, quitted the family of Mr. Godwin Swift in bMsxkd^
and retired to Leicester, the place of her nativily ; but her
son was again carried to Ireland by bis nui*8€^ and veplaced
under the protection of his uncle Godwip* It has been
generally believed, that Swift was born in England ;• and#
when the people of Ireland displea^ed^imy be has been
heard to say, ^*I am not of this vile country j, I am an
Englishman :" 4E>at this account of bis birth is taken, from
one which he left behind bim, in bis own hand*writing#
Spme have also thought, that be wasi a natural .son of sir
William Temi^e, because sir WilUa^ exp^iessed a pard^r
eular regard for bim ; but that was impossible ; for sir Wil-(
iiam was resident, abroad in a pjublio. charaoter. from 1665
%Q 1670 ; and bis mother, who was nevei? out of the British
.dominions, brought bim w^o tbQ w^d in Ifiei. i
At about six yeaics of age^ be i|fa^ sent to t^^. school of
Kilkenny, and having /^ootitm^. there e%bt years^ h^^welst
admitted a student of Trinity college in Dublin ^. Here
applying himself to bo^ks pf history and poetry, to th^
neglect of academic leaKoing, be wasy at the end lof four
years, refused his degree of bachelor of arts foir insuffi<<«
^|§ncy ; and was at last admitted spmdli gratH^. whioh is
there considered as the highest d^ree of reproach and
dishonour* Stuug with the disgraqe, he stiudied eight hourf
a day, for seven years following. He commeneed these
studies at the university of Dublin, where he' continued^
themj three years; and during this time he drew up tb^
%tsketteb.pf his " Taleof a Tub;'' for Wase^ndon Warren^
es()» a gentleman of fortune near Belfast in Ireland^ who^
was chamber- fellow with Swift, declared that be then saw^
a JQdtpy of i^ ioc Swift> f^i^ hand*writing.
* For some particulars explanatory . separately in 1808, and &1so adi^ed
d^BWrffl conduct kt college, see «« An to Mr. Nicbols'» new edition of tliat
StM^rott tte EadroR paitaf hi« Life^ ytar.,
Il ,th^, {tfTvPr^aaJuelt,'' pn^bliytied *
V S W I F T. S3
^ Yn VBM, lib ilncle Godwin was seised witb a lethargy,
and soon aftet was deprived both of bis sfteech and oie^
nlory : by which accident Swift being left without soppoit^
tdok a journey to Leicester, that he nfight consuk with his
nibther what course of life to pursue. At this time air
William Temple was in high reputation, and honbured
with the confidence and familisurity of king William. His
fiitber sir John* Temple, had been 'master of the Rolls in
Ireland, and contracted an intimnte friendship with Gt^
wlu Bwlft, wfaicK continued till his death ; and sir Williani^
wiib ihheiited his title and estate, had msirried aladytii
Whom^ MK swift was relaled: she therefore « advised her
BOti to cbmmunicate his situations tb'si^ Williaad, and solicit
bis direction what to do. Sir WiHiaih received him with
great kf fidness, and Swift^s fir&t visit continued two years.
Sir WflHam bad beeff ambassador and uiediator of a gene*
«al p(^ace at Nimegueii before tfa« Revolution ; in which
character hb beciattie kndwn to the prince ef Orange^ who
fi*equefitiy visited him It ISheeu, after his arrival in Eng«
Ikn&y and took his advice in afilairs^ of the utmost impor*
tance.'^ Sir WHliatti being then llMAe with the gout, Swift
u^ed to attend hiii majesty* in the walks abouc ^e garden^
who ildmitted hinfi to such a familiarity, that he shewed
him how to cut asp^ra^gua after die Daicb maaner; <and
once ofiei^ to ra^ke hfiu a captain of horse ; bat 8«^ft bad
.fisred his mind upon sin ^cdesiasticaMife. . .
"'About thiij time a biir w» brought into the hcdse for
triennial parliani^nts, to' which the king was very averse;
but sent, hotrevet, to consult sir William Temple, who
adon aft^rrWai^s sent Swift to Kensington with the whole
tfccmint in writing, to convince the king how ill he was ad*
vised: TMis was Swift^s first embassy to court, who, though
be understood Englii^h history, and the matter in hand very'
%eli| ^et did not prevail* 8bon after Ibis transactiotf, be
Ws sbized with the return of a disorder, which he had eoh«
ifscied in Il*eland by eating a great quantity of fruit, and
wfaidi* Afterwards gradually increased, though with irregu«
Mf^interniissions, till it terminated in a total debility of
bbdy aid mind. / .
' About a year after his return freim Ird^nd, he thought it
expedient to take his master of , arts degree at Oxford ^ and
accordingly .w;as admitted ad eundem in 1692, with many
civilities. These, some say, proceeded frcmi a misundef*'
standing. cf tihe words speciali graiid, in hlstestimoniai friSlL
u
s w r F T.
Dnbliri, Whieh wtte there supf)o6ed to be a ^otaifplihMffif
pi&id to uncommon merit; b«it are more probiiUy liiicribddr
by otbei^ to bis known connection with »ir WHliiam ^P#m^
pie. h is easy to coneeitey bovipever, that Sutrift, aft^r iii&
reputation. was estaUisbed, might, while he wai -spivttftti^
wkh^hts incident in the gaiety of bis bearti pnstebd^ii'ttiiiM^
take which never happened. From Oxford be relurtol^dl^li^
m William Temple, and assisted^ bim in revisifyg bit ^^kaf>
b6 also corrected and improved bis bis oWn <* T«te^ oP^itf
Tnb,^ ^tid added the digressions. From tb^ <)ont^«rii|titt#
of sif Wi}Ham, Swift greatly increased h1S'\fMiilMa^fc^vi^
ledge; hut, sospecting sir WHliam «tf negtectiii'gjio^iH^vilta^
ftk himj merely that be might keep bim in bis ibmitji^nb^
9t length i-esented ft so warmly^ ttmt in 1694'« quanreiieoM
sued, and they parted; ^ ^-^
Swifr^ during his residence with sir Witdafii/bad mnv^it
iUHed to visit his mother at 'Leicester- once a y^al-, und^^M
msihner of travelling was very ejttraordinftry( Ue4i#iiy«k
went on foot, except the weather was^ ^i^btfd^ ^stid Vbte
he wonld sothetimeL take shelter in Ibl waggdn/ lle'^(»s#
td*dltte 'kr obsfCune ^le^hcf^seH^vatawg pedbtrti and^ Ostliirdy:
an^ td He where hh saw tfrfeten over thi dttor,< ">Li&Jgiii(gs^
f^a pe^nVf ^ btkl Rinsed ^o'^iibe tbeMaidf%i4b }^itpevum
for^ & sFh^e4ed and clelan'iibeets. 'J* ^ :
-' Hi^fi^Tlvliiottwk^'Adw to'take't>fddr^j %nd'be aMti tft«t
<$btai^d'^ f bcbttflD^ffaion to 4otA €^^t, tbeifi tovd^ d«eM3
'^nty of 'Ii^ktid^ "Mho^'g^te bim tbd ^r^bend 4of Kilitoi^, ^i^
tb^ dioeeieMof' Connor^ worth about i 00/. per<bn4iUto*') BMt
sif'WHliditi, #ho 'find befen iHsed to* tb* e^n^i^touimi c^t
SWift^ sodh found that be ebukt not be eontent to live wkb-^
otic'bitn; and tberefai^ ui*ged bim to resign bid preb«nd*itf.
flivour'Of a friend, promisirig to obtatti preferment for^binJi
iW'£ngfand| if be w6atd return* Swift confiiefited; 4nd «ir.
\VHIiatti^was ' sof iaxtxth pieased with this act ^ kiitfd nesa^
tb^liltairitig^tMe'^efm^indeir bf bis life,, wbic^ Wbs abdiK faf«r
^^ri; ')tf8fbtH)avionrMw:as shcb as prodeiebd tbb ii«tfrpstibbr<i'
K^f^y- Between theW/ Swift, as a te^itii^E^nV'Of 'hH tiist^A^
Ibi^/lbd'^tiiteebi, wiV)te tbe <« Battle" ^ihe >&mUs," df
^iyfi^irKVHrtina 'is' tbe bero^; and sir'Wiirittm,^ WbeiyA^
<fi^^l^ mtPh^j^^iSixoiify legaey» ^anii Us 'pos^tnoub
'''^Up!6i>>fHe Q^aA' of sir'Williftni Temple,- JBMfi'^Mtedi:
hf petition to king WiUfanf^,'fdr ilbe A^i« >vlicam p««b^Kd.
of Canterbury or Westminster, for which th^^lOyiiP.
S W I F, T^ J*.
1
Hi^rllftiM^^eiit^olMRiiQed by ^ la^^tr^i^ irbose pQ9fibii^
iti9^9^^0r}i$^^k^ii^d\QHmd u> bis laaje^^y, tp facilitate tto^
ainiocissr/ol ^hfitt applkatioa, B^tr it doa^ notappeac, that/
^ler^i^ djOiLiJi^c sir WilUanoi tlie-ki<ig tpok the least no^
tipet0|(j}wi^ ,4(ft^ this be acq^^ted ^ iQvitation from;
^riiwufif'S^rliL^tffj appQiot04rPO&^Qf tbe Lords justices of
llebfi4M't^'«^^^IM bim as^xfoaplgij^ a,Q4 priyate secretary;"
biitiM w^ |(M9 reinovi9d.fi^M»»,tbisipQst^ ^xpoo a pnetofice
%bi^ Jt^lv^ not St .ior a.clergym^« Tbis di$appointonent[
^IMipfff»^n|ly foUqtv^ by AiKitber ^ for wb^n ,the dean^ry^*
Q^/I^ry bA€(Mpe vaaa#t, aod it<%vas tbe earl of BerkieleyV
Hirfv<l«[di9p^e»«i it^ Swift^ ^ ii^tead of. receiving it as aii^
^ilnea)€Hit'for«ibisiaie»usage) ms put off witb tbe livings;
of <X»afai?or^ #i|4 Ratibb^ggiA, in tbe diocese of Meath^^.
wliicb togetber did not amount to half ii*. value. He went
tO) r«ai<t«;.4t Lat^qk^ 4M)d parforined tbe duties, of a parish
yldeMhwitt^t^^jUfmpst punctuality and devotioo. He was,*
iiMfaw{lt:4tways y»iy. A»vouty.>oot only in bU public and*
$oUAiEifei'liyddi^sea,u><jrfMl, hiU io bU domestic and private
W^Hoisflf: at)4;^!Q^r v^ith>,aUtb is. piety it) bis beart, b^
cmUi'OOi^ f9rl»^r.Wl^^ng tbe.peouliari^.af bis hu^ouiV'
v|#k^lM .^portmiit^ioSefedy .v^bate^er oiigbt be ,tbe im*
pni|iq«|y of tbc) umt^ and piaqe.' Upon b^ coming to La^
racor, be gave public notioet .tbai .be ^ould.ire^d prayers
aBil^ediieidfsjrA.itndiFridajf^ ^vbicb bad not been tbe cas->
Ms ;l iwl 4«Dordipply tb« bell was rxwfgf ^^pd J^ asicenfied
ihe^dmb' :TftMtb'1^9(vif)g is^KDained.«9Q(ie, ^ime^ iviritb no other
audtton^bWcbia cl^k R9igeafy be b^gafii ^^ Dearly belov^
RpgfdT^ ; <b(^ S^^rifMjure mov^sth ypu .and me in sundry^
plli<N»s^Vi>aiidi^ pf^^atc^odedipt of tbe service* Of
thelfjM*A(^iii4 rff^ bis r^^e witb IXr.. Raymond, vicar. of
'ii«iiNolsiw>fiiififtei"<.b« was a of St« PatriQieV
6vJili]^a^ill§dft(^^eSi^dayiwit,b.Raympnd^ »nd when |bct
^fttold<tane:y?iogif>g % e^;>ij;ig prayers, ** V^yipj&w^j^
wgrt fiwtf^ e^vJ iiwtt l^y ypu^i^^ qrowfv ^^ I ^^gi.n pfajffiis
brf*rfto3W«» M§ ^ftfeMftWia.? j DT-R^ywnp^ accepted. tj^
«ts|^ird suNl ^MP^iiiy} h9f^ san as f^ .as Uk^^/qq^IiI t^
lbe",(^y^l«*•eciR%^n§fMill^fhe *ijnl#r, .of .^bp |;f o^ sfriy^
6*tfi^lb^(dflflfiWnd<,w|lw»^ b^f fltWll^^t>^S J?bMWb, ! -w«yfs^
bis pace, but running up' the aile, left Raymond bebif^d
Wi4k|l)8dfl»W|)RyiKfi^tp ^lM^,.>vitiiqiit.ppmng 9f^ jbe
H SWIFT.
. During Swift^s resideace at Laracar^ he ifiviuid' to Itfi«
knd a laay whom he ha& celebrated by, the name of SteUa*
'yVith this lady he became acquainted while he lived wiik
air William Temple : she was the daughter of his atQwardt
whode name was Johnson ; and sir WiUiamy whea be diiM^
left her 1000/. in consideration of her father's faithful s^r-^.
ifices. At the death of sir William^ which happened im
1699, she was in the sixteenth year of her agc^} and it we*
about two years afterwards, that at Swift's invitation »bfii
left England, accompanied by Mrs. Dingley, a^ lady wW
was fifteeri years older, and whose :wb9le £gjrtiiii6,>tbeugb;i
she was related to sir William, was no more tbap an ai^.
nuity of 27/. Whether Swift ^t this time desired the epmi^i
pany of Stella as a wife, or a friend, it is not cextaio ; but'
the reason which ^he and her companion then gave, for
their leaving England ws^s, that in Irelaiid. th^ interest of.
iponey was higher, and provisions werecheap«. Buiv>what«
(Over was Swift's attachment to Miss Jo][uwoo» every IposaiK
ble precaution was taken , to prevent scandal a thfy. nevieft
lived in the same hoqse;(when 3wiftf .waa abaenfc Mkf»
'Johnson and herVriend resided <it the passons^e; Avbep be>
returned, they Removed eitbei;.tQhis fr^nd^Qr* C^ipood'sy
or to a lodging; neither were th^ji ever kapwi^r/lo mM^-
hut in the presence of a thi^d perstvi. Swift. n»^e;fren
quent excursions to Dublin, and sQaie to Lpp4fl9 : Jbut^ ,
JMiiss Johnson was buried in aoUt^ud^. and, Qbf|Curi^.)csheri
was known only to a few of 3«vift!s mo^t i^tiooMe 4i^
quaintancd, and bad no female. cooip^niQfiie^Qept Mrsk?.
©ingley. . ^, . »
Iti 170 Ij^ Swift tooK his doctor's de^rfe, ^nd ia 1?Q2#
aoon after 'the death of king. William, he w0at into Eng^*
land for the first time after bis sfdtMing^t Lavaccur; a jour*
Bey which he frequently repeated diariag the refgn- of
queen Anne. Miss Johnson was once in EpglaAd in X7QS^ ,
but returned in a few months, and, neveir. crossed, the chaii'*'
nel afterwards. He soon became emine^it at^a wrjj^r, an«l
»n th^t character was knpwn to both whigs and toriesi H« .
had beeii educated a^iong the fo^fper, j^ut ^t leiag^^b at«« .
lached faithself to the {atter ; beca^se the whig;«> ^ bo said^^
had renqiinc^d their. ^oldpxip^^ipL^, apd n^cfiiyddotbersn
Vhiph thejr fbrefathers^bhorred* H^pubHi$hed, j^p.^lQii.
<^ A discourse of the oontests a^d disseotiqnsj^etavfi^i th^ ,
ttobles and commons ^n Atjbens.and Rome,, with ibe^coc^iCK
Quences tfeeV haid upop.))gtjii tbpSQ states :V. >t{ua. Vftsitt b^
ft W I F T- *»
Mf of *ki«^' WiHUm and fats mibisterj, against the violent
fNcbct^diogs of the House of Commons ; but from tbat.yetr
io 1708, hedid not write any political pamphlet.
. In 17J0| being then in England, he was empowered bjr
lli^ priola^of Ireland, to solicit the queen to release tba
etevgy horn payittg the twentieth pairt and first-fruits ) and
i|io6 ttilfr^ocoasiotit his aeqtiaintance with Mr. parley com^
ttfebded. • Asaaon as he had received the primate^s instruct
•kins, he resolved to apply to Mr. Harley; and, before he
#lAted bii him^ got himself represented as a persbn whof
h4d been ilt nsed by the last ministry, because he would
B#l'go such lengths as they n^ould have bad him* Mr»
Hariey received him^ith the utmost kindness and respect;^
kept him with him two hours alone ; enjgaged in, and sooa
after aecomplisbed his business ; bid him come often to see.
bim privately; and tdd .him, that he most bring him to.
the knewkdgd' of -Mr. 8t. John. Swift presently became,
iKMjuainted with the rest 6f the ministers, who appear te,
liaveF*^ourted and caressed bim with uncommon assiduity*
He'Siined every Sattirday at Mr. HarleyV, with the lordi
kl^epi^^ Mr. secretary St. John, and lord Rivers: on tbait.
d»y tio ottrer person was for some time admitted ; but thia,
i|d»oi dooojpany was at length enlarged to sixteen, all mea>
oftho'&rst elasi^ Swift included, Frpm this time he sup<».
pOi4ed the interest of his new friends with all his power, ioC
paibphletsj poemsj and peiiodical papers : his intimacy .
with tWdoi was so remarkable, that he thought not only to
d#fe6d, J>ut hi some degree to direct their measures ; and
such was his importance in the opinion of the opposite
party, that many speeches were made against him in both
. bt0|ies of pariiairient : a reward was also offered, for dis*
cov^tt-ing the author of ^ The Public Spirit of the Whigs.'^ .
Amidst ail the business and honours that crowded upon ,
hiod) he wrote every day an account of what occurred, to .
Bt#Hil; and BSBt her a journal regularly, dated every tortf
night, *d^riYig the whole time of his connection with queen
Anne's ministry.' From these unrestrained effusions of n|s .
helit't maifty particulars arb knowjR, ^hich would QtberWise j
)iaVe4ein Bid; and by these it appears, t(iat he was n6t|,
eaiy employed, but trusted, even^ by Harley himself, who^
to aU others was reserved atid mysterious. In the mean
l»iii}e, Swift had no escpectations of advantage from his cooi- ,
pejstion with'ihese persons^ he knew the/y could ^Jojtlpjioj
preserve «th6ir powef'.'Md he did ^ nbt hoixpur k whlfe it
S;W1FT.
oiKBOcbdat; of the ^violent tneasuvM wfaiicb «vere fMir^
med by both sicbs. ^< I lUe the mirtistry^'* uiyK he^ <*^'IUm^
dogVy baceioMs I cucpect they wiit use me sq. 1 nerer kilewif
attsfaiiilry do-aiiy.thing.for those whom tfaey made eeAiA/
pciii(SM m their fsleasianes; but I cam not.^' In tfaeMtn*<
flier of 1711 y he ibresasr the ruia of the mifiutry. by itikoil«i
misiindenUndiogB aiooog thenDselresy *wbushailr bstiefiected;
k; endit'wav'not only his optnion, but theit own,* tbal'i^
tbey touid not carry, a peeLce, they iBlist< sooar be Bafit'4iQ^
the Tower^ Oven «bocigb ^they ibould: tSgrisOit In osder.
Cheirerfore to #ftcilttatethia. great' event, StKift waoteotba^
VCondqot ^f the Allies;;*' a piece, whifcbi bet iconfimil^: ^
cost him much pains, and which succeeded even beyoo'd.
, his exfieetations. It was published Novudflf IVi li^aiuiHa
two months tioote above 1 1,000* »rere sold ofiy sevatt* ediMiir
bavkig beefi piinted iu England, andbifaaree m 4rillandL
The toif^ members in both bouses, wko spoken dreiv^/tbsiiP'
arguoients from it ; add the nesokitiot»s,'Wbicb ^were ptinteib
in xUe totd$« axid would, tiever.^ have pkaa^d ^bnt fof *tbia^ ,
yamphlet^''w«reJittlttMru«fthan qisotations fromut.d .Froii^
ibis time' to ItV^ be eisarfceff bimielf^ilrttbtumKearied'diUw
genceUh the ^rvitfe o^tbcj^miaJBi^'? and whiletbeiwa^ttfcr
Wibd9iD4^ jixst at ihe eoiic|u9i0n}ioC:Lthe/ f)toae ^^Ihfoch^
h^ Apix^ m^ffis^sknitkt' otrMjAu'bisitotf ^f tbe fisur Anb
j»ani 4pf ^eed )AMie."' ' TAiis>:be afterwalrds ^aishtted^ aadk
eamp 4dt<^ fiiigkod>ia pofaUsfaiiij but ^laiiifdissMaded.- (rmtt^
bykiM^B^o^iopkev who tbid^bim,'Jt|leiiwhda)waa8diiniMii
iCi'4h€^'«{ilrit 9|f'i|^ty«wrQ;in{^ >th^^<dityugh! it tat^ht: Hjehw .
wade^ sea^i^iOipadAphkat mihe^.tiiDm\ot dseir/adanoi*^
ktnf^Xf, (itiwoaid?- bevkj^diGduraonrxta^jisit history, r «Swiii;
seeii^s'fo'havie b^en leodrism^ly !-foad> of i^^thia work, by.ide>'
ckrili^tb«^ JliirW^tbe fceBtrtbiag he^adiever wriuop ; bntj^
skyce bir^ftidnd'^idifioU appmveijt^ betwonld oasfc jbsinta
ibe^tpi It^d i»Bt^^ &okeV4»,' iind£Srgoi:llHa. fitter bttt^waa
p^dbiiibed'liyilDrl Lu6«9|(U> tbe disappointmealt of all thastd
who ^ptM}tbd'«9y ^bi^ofp great ^ front 4t. ? i < ^ ^
^^lOmrinif'^^w ttdaae, J|a' recdfirexl/.noigratliitjtarfreiitarii
tijl^7^l3'f ii^d'tiieniUe.aeneptadathe :dean«ry of ).iSc; Bau
iri^k^j^^t^Bilblili; -A iawihcipfrc faad^.^mfceniaopne ttoK be&ea
iii€tfltodifoi[«^bim'^by itbet)queefi;'biit archlMshop Sharpie
bii^Qg'^t^p^i^Mfcwteiihjfm'to'bcr^aiajesty as «jnalitiviMrboaB
chi'itBtiauii^ »vua«^vei^qabstionabley tiid : beings isapported 'ia
tUs 4^ If^eertain bea^fri9e8t<l)ildypiit»wa9«givdn?dtO(7anaftben.
U^ 4ftiii^()i«U»^'<yoi»ied:rtb9(d^ to ttake pdsaesaioar^al
SW iFTi 4*
tiifrnew ^gnity ; hnt did uot stay id trdand indre than «
foi^€ntghtv''^^i»g urged by an hundred letters to basteit
back/' and reconcile the lords Oxford and Bolb^roke^
Wiien be returned^ he found their anioiosjtj incrassedi
andj ^"fin^ predicted their mip from this very saiise,' b«
labdw-ed to bring about a reconciliation, a3 that u}3K^n'Mrhich
tbanpirholedntereat of their party depended.' Havibg' at4'
dttnptidd'tbis by various methods in Taioi he went lo •
feitetid^s hoiiae in fierkfbirey where he eontinudd -till tho
qoketk*s deaths aod^ while be was at this place, 'Wfote •
cbtfeourae^called' '' Free thoughts on the present etane oi
afiatns," winch, however, was not publisbod tiU some tioae
after* ■•.-/',..,. v. - • •
Before :W% attend fimft to Ireland^ it 19 necesaijry toi
gire a Iktla Ustdry iof his Vaiiessa, because his coiineotiona
w^b> hor were^ made in. England. > Among other per$ooa
witfe wtaoiA he^was initim^itely acquaioted dofiflig the gay
^^sn/ofi bis \jfe^ was.Mrs.iVanhomriglu She was a kidy of
g4XKl famiiy in Jbaeknd) al^d becameL the iri^ off Mr. Van?*;
bomrigb, iirst a merdMnt- of Amsterdodi, tb^H'of. Dublin^
where' be 'Was raised by kiagi Wtiliamy'iupoci hie :eJepf)ditioi»
imo^^keidndii^to^very .grcati.plades. i>yiQ|^ biul/TO^, hei
l^fitjcwixsdfeis and' ft wo daughters i:)bfit 4heiAQtisirsQi3ia tafteif
dy«lig,''bist»«i4ioile foc4mney.(iArhichowa9jedasid^4^Uie,/l9ll la
ibe( daxatf^tsits. In 17i!)8, the <wldb\ir SiImI' thof^l/^oiiy^ung
hidaies i^sunbiFtafin^and^ wbem ilhey wel^ vislt^4>byiwr^
aim.iof rtbe^ifirsit i«)i»lUy ; and' BwiSt^ iwtigjat^ a^r.r ibem^
iwedi t^>|iie< muoh thtoe^jcomtngiaod gpiaiii^ witb»uii*any
oeremboy^r at( if hAthadbeen imeio£< tbelfamily>:)^ Dulii^
tiir^aii^hifity^ faebeduneinaenlNbly a kind, of pneioeptor
taUie yqoliig ladies,. pamiculaHy theyeldesi^'< wbot'v^^s ttbeii
^boost twenty lyearsr old,; was^ medl atidipl^d i^nrejfduxg^
aild*a gnaat iuiaiirer of poetry^ . HMcia iadmirtngHKis ytksi
ttti^taiy sQOii a«hacqi3tBr.as that^of Swifi^ bkfe ji>onfj)asse4
frmd'slduiiraliionri.to lore-; and, urgiadi.al hf9le;|MTJMl{)$.rbj(
vanity, which would ha^e 'been:, li^gbiy\gfAi&6d<(;t^
Mamgemitbthei^rtt w&ref the agb, .<sbe meteHioiP^dojsnakc^
tisMdodtdpa^^ao^ial oG mmiriagei . iHe affected ^tgfiTst to
bftlftaKb jiefiioajeatp'iteri)^ isdy^.ibiatr A)n sto^l^lEQ^ical a
ekphris^ qodi^ai last tatput bmr jfiff tiv^itliaiitijsb^ol^terff^fusal ;
and^ivwhilyn be anasr uo; itbis ^ jituatietn^' W)JwaQ^c[lhe :;poeai
talfas^-idt^f^Q^rmdnidiy^nejaai^^jc: Ji|}W|i^ wfit^efi iins 1 7 1 3^
ai^tdasati^timertbfJ^rer.bejtleGtllilaitM^ i^r|$al /^ bi%
Ici^iaaMspdSq^ibdj:. aoi(l(ri9^^ tbsdioipli(#eT^tal&«3(U^
«0 SWIFT
a9 be used frequently xo call it. In 1714, Mrs. Vanbbih-
ffgh died ; and, having lived very expensively, left some
clebts, which it not -being convenient for her daughters,
who b^ also debts of their own, to pay at present, to
avoid an arrest they followed the dean into Ireland.
Upon his arrival to take possession of his deanery, he had
been received with great kindness acid honour ; but now,
«ipon his return after the queen^s death, he experienced
every possible mark of contempt and indignation. The
tables were turned ; the power of the tories and the dean^s
credit were at an end; and as a design to bring in the
pretender had been imputed to the queen's ministry, so
Swift lay now; under much odium, as being supposed to
h^ve been a welUwisher in thitt cause. As soon as he' was
settled at Dublin, Miss, or Mrii. Johnson, removed froitt
the country to be near him, but they still lived in separat<»
bouses ; his residence being at the d^a^nery, and hers in
lodgings on the other side of the river Liffy, The dean
kept two public dsiys evety week, oh which the dignity of
his station wba sustained with the utmost elegance and de-^
corum, under the direction of Mrs. Johnson. As to his
employment at hoiiie, h^ seems to have had no heart to
ap|)ly himself to study of any kind, but.tb hare resigned
hfmsetf wholly to such jailiusements and such com|)ai!iy as
offered, that he might not think of h|is situation, the mis^i*
fbrtune$ of his friends, and • his disappointments. *^ I was
three yefers,** says he to Gay, ** ireconciUng myself lo the
scene and business to which ifbrtune Uad condemned hie ;
^nd stupidity was what Ihad ¥ecdurse to.'*' ^
Theiirst remarkdble event of bis life, after his settle-
ment at the deanery, was his marriage to Mrs. Johnson,
after a inost intiiliate friendship 6f mdre than sixteen years.
This was in i? 16 ; and the ceremony was performed. by Dn
Ashe, then bishop of Cldgher, to whom the dean had been
^ pupil in Trinity college, Dublin. But, whatever were
the oiotive^ to this mai'riage, the dean and the lady cour*
tinned to live afterwards just in* the same maViner as they
bad lived before. Mrs. Dingley was still the inseparable
eompanion of Stelhi 'wherever she went ; and sh^ i>ever re*
tided at the deanety, except Wheh the dean had his fits of
giddiness and deafness. Titi tbiit time he bad continued
hisVishift to Vanessa, who* pi*ederved her reputlttibn kijd
friends, and was visited by many persons of rank, chairaeter^
and foiftune, p{ both sexes i but now Jbis visits were les*
a WITT- §1
ire<|Qeiit» In 17 17 her sitter died ; and the wfaole remain*
of the family fortane centering in Vanessa, she retired t6
Selbridge^ a small bouse and estate about twelve miles froai
Dublin^ which bad been purchased by her father. Front
this place she wrote frequently to the dean ; and he an*
iwered her letters: she pressed him to marry her, but her
iaUied, aiid' still avoided a positive denial. She pressed
htm still morei either to acceptor refuse her as a wife]
npon which he wrote an answer, and delivered it with bis
own band. The receipt of this, which probably commu-^
Bjcated the fatal secret of his marriage with Stella, the un-
happy lady did ndt survive many weeks; she waa, how«
ever, sufEcientty composed to cancel a will she had made
in the dean^s favour, and to make anot(ier, in which she lefi
her fortune to her two executors. Dr. Berkeley, bishop of
Ooyne, arid MK. Marsball, one of the king^s sergeants a»
law. ' •/'.'■*
Frooi^ Iti6'to 1720, is a chasoi in the dean^s life which
it has beevi found difBcuIt to fill up ; lord Orrery thit)ks|;
with griSat reason, that he emplbyeo this time upon '^ Gulf
Kver^sr Travels.^* 'ftiift work is a moral and political ro-
mance, in wnich Swift had exerted the strongest efforb of
f fine'irreguTar genius:^ but wbit^ bis' imagination ^nd wic
delight, it is hardly p6ssit)1e not to be sometime^ p^ended
i^ith his satire^ which ^ets not only all human actiops^ but:
human nature itself, in the worst light. The truth is, j^wift^t
disappointments bad rendered bim splenetic and angry
W'Uh the whole world ; and he frequently indulged himself
in a mbantbropy thiat is ihtolerabfet : he has done so pa,rti-'
cu^arly in some parts of this work* About this time the
dean, who had already acquired the chafacteir of a hu^
mourist and wit, was first regarded, with general kindnes^^
as th^ |)atriot of Ireland. He wrote ^^ A proposal for tbo
ii^e of Irish manufactures,^ which made him very popular.;
the more so, as it immediately raised a vi'olent name,, so
that a prosecution was commenced against tb^ printer, lit
itjri he wrote the " I>rapier*s Letters^^*' those Bra,zep *ijf)p-/
^jliments of his fame, as lord Orrerv calls them, A.pateiijt
Eavipg^ be'ei^ iniquitously procured by one.\Vo6d tip qpfa
TftO,'Cfo6t. tin copper, for the use of Irelahcl, Wwliigfa he'
would nave acquired e^orbita^t gain, and proportJotvaEjy*
impoverished the nation : the dean, in the, character of i
?iS^?f Filr Y'^^ta ^t?!^*^%^f letters to |lie R^pple^ F^^fij?.-
Inem not to rec<>ive this cjopper mone^^ Thjese Mtfers'
0% a WITT*
mihed'th^ HMe natixm i6 bis pnuae^ filled merjr ^iMsiisricft
liU eflig^, ' and ei^erj voice whb iMsdamations ; sod Wood^
^oogb snppoi^ted for some timey vasat lengtb cotiipelledi'to
Mrilbdraw bis pateiity atidbis money was:totadl7>su|qir4eneri)t«
tJFrom tbi^'time ihedean^s itifloeoce in .Ireland vraa almeft
without bounds : be was consulted in whatever velateikto
domestic policy, aod -partiodlarly to.^trad^* Tfae weavers
filways considered bior as itbeir patron and legislator, after
bis proposal for the tise of dhe Irisb tnannfifctures ; and
when elections were depcfnding for tb^ city of Dublioy
many corporations ; t*efu;$ed to declare .th'efmseltes till tbey
•knew bis sentiments and inclinations, Orer the populace
he wias' the mdstabsoltite monarch that evet' governed* -and
be wa^ regarded by persbgs of eve^y r^nk with teneratichs
and esteem. .,. '
. Re wassefveral times in Englatid on ti visit to Pifpp, ^er
his settlement at the dedn^iy^ particularly ift 17i26 and
n27. oil Jan. 28, 17127, died hlsbfefov^d SteHa, invlrtr
forty-fourth year, regretted by tlie d^n irttb^^ticb Ifewessi
of affection as the liveliest si^nslbflityali/h^cotildTefef,' and
the n)ost Excellent ebarsictW excite : siie fa^d beei<^d<ee(iti-i
Sng from 1724. Stellk was a most aA^i^M^ wbman%6tfr-in
person >nd mind. Her stature waal tal)/1ji^rhkit atlcPeyes
^black,"her complexion fair aiid deHca?i:i, b«fr feature 'fi^
"gular. Wt, and animated, bef Aapife eksy"ai]?d''el«|tfrit,
and'h^rrtianner fieminme, pojite, and gfdeeiM: -tbd^^Waa
natural' music in her voice, aiid compldber^cy ihlidtf tr^i^t;
^be abounded with wit, which was always accbm|)iib(4dr
with good-nature ; her virtue was fbunded upon htiA^Mijr,
a^nd ber religion up<in rdason ; biir mforali W6i*e tftriin»Mi^
but not rigid, and hdr devotion was babitiikii); bdthot osl^^
' latious. " Why th^ dean did not soont^'marryftw tt^
excellent person ; \vby he married heir'at aU ; why Ws tor--
riage was so cautiously concifeiftetfy ^nd vrhy He wW^ neifejr
known to nieet her bat in the presebce 5f -a: thWdfifev^iii ;
are enquiries which no man cart answer^"* iays^ tU€ vfrWifer
bfhisirfe, *^ without absurdity/* :♦ ^■'^' ^'"^^^^ -'^^^^ ;
' ; Supjjosing Swift to have bfeeA * gfeidgff lk ibfe VkJ»^%y
iriere capricft and hum6ari b6 c^nhot btit^b4^ie4iH"Ih%r^6Afet
' ungracious light, and considered as a Wa(f 'bVtei>1|^'a<d^d
of bumanUy ; for it is generally agreteU, lEbii^ ^Sf^^Hi^^lBi*
* But tee this aflbir cleared from comprehensire and well authenticBteit
^mifV^ groflt misrepreteiitatioiis, Mid iriifr»iiT« of Mr. Coxe, ia big life of
placed inajery difi^rentUfhty byUif (|ir Robert Waliiole.
matort .4«fttli was oocauoned by the peouliltrtag' «li¥a «M-
duct towards b«r. It appears, by ^evero] [iqapi^oWyi (|mK
■he regretted ftnd duRpproTcd llus conduot, Md^tb^t,^}^
•ometjaie*' reproached him with unkiudfLtetA; foFilo Mfth
regret wd reproach he oertaiol; aUttdes^ W)' (he.ioUAW^
Tonesoa bert^b-dty, ia 173<: .■!.•:, -t
*'0, then, whatcter hearlk btemh, ' '
tUw pi^ on your pitfuig friBD^B i . . ..^ -> : . - i
Nor let your ills nfibct your m^^ .j, '. ;.j . i
To,fiu»cy-they caa be w^lund f ,.
' Me, Burely me, yoti ought to spare.
Who gladly would your auEterings share." *" '
It is said ibe dean d\d at length earnestly desire^ that site
might he publicly qwned as his, wife ^ but, as ber beallh
was then dei^liniag, she said, " it is too late," and insisted,
that they should continue to live as the; bad lived before.
To this tbe,deap i.n,his (urn consented, and sufTeiM her to
-clispose entirely of her CHvn fortune, by £ef o^i^ i'snie,! to
^ public. charity w)ien she died.,' . , , , -
. Tli^ most in^xpusable part of Sw^ffs conduct certainty
^pp^ars in this unhappy, affair, for tybiclt no pro^r apology
.canl^eip^e; ^lulwbicl) llie va^n at,t<;mpta of hi?' f^ien^
)lfiV4 only,teu(4{fLl tojigg^ravate*. Q^ attritput^s his siiicu-
l^r GOi)(UiiQt ,to a peculiarity, ii^ his copgtittiiion^^tfiit', if ha
fcnevy that be vfa$ un&t to enter into tiie riiarrieif^tati^' now
..came.Up to.upite, one, lady to hi[n,3i;lfliy;^Be' ' ^pnyfef
jnarriage, and explicitly to declare Jhjsp^'ssion t p otherj
' What caa lye^think alijoof the seDsill»i])Iy of f ui, who,
ctrongly :a^ached as he seem^ to. bay^'be^n'ib b, could
silently throw dowu a papei;,befpi['e,t{i^ onCi- w r jiroved
kpe "j deatjti-warri^t/'.and'/^piildjthr^w tIieoL..w. [his be-
Iwed ^lelliij into unspeakable agonie,?. in'H«r,'Jast, illness,
and quit her for ever, 7, only Tor acyurThg'bi.m;^ by t(ieir
friendship, to let her hare ,thp satisfaction of dylng^at least,
though she. had npt lived^,. his, atfliiibwl^dietl wife?* Alio-
ther apol9gist Insinuates, upor\ soinetbui^TiK'e evidence,
that Stella bore a son to Swifl^' aryj yet JaboHrs''iS?'e's«iiati
bim for Jjpt declarioR h?r bis ;»i\t^
>t the marriage tliai^t should rei
:dis(^very.^ould be demanded I
.what could be meant by urgent^jjj
to the birth of children, be coh
'■""'■■ ;■«.-■-. ..■—,-, ...I --..^In MsJtu .-.u s-^:- ':a ■
say* 1* (itf tnith 19^ pro1>aUyi what bai been said by thi
Johnson, that the man wbom Stella bad the migfortune ta
l(yre, vras fond of singularity, and desirons to make a mode
of happiness for himself^ different from the general course
ef things, and- the order of Providence* He wished for all
the pleasures of perfect friendship, without the uneasiness
of conjugal restraint. But with this state poor Stella wa»
not satisfied ; she was tiever treated as a wife, and to the
world she had the appearance of a mistress. She lived sul-
lenly on, hoping that in time he would own and receive
her. This, ^as we have seen, he did at last offer to do ;.
but pot till the change of his manners, and the depravation
of his mind, made her tell him that it was too late.
From the death of Stella his life became much retired^
and the austerity of his temper increased ; he could not
enjoy bis public days; these entertainments were therefore
discontinued, and he sdmetimes avoided the company of
his most intimate friends ; but in time he grew more de«
sirous of company. In 1732 he complains, in a letter to
Mr. Gay, *' that be had a large boose, and should hardly
find one visitor, if he was not able to hire him with a bottle
of wine;'* and, in another to Mr. Pope, that *' be was in
danget* of dying poor sind friendless, even bis female friends
having forsaken him ; which," as he says, ^* vexed him
most.*' 'These complaints were afterwards repeated in k
strain of yec greater sensibility and self-pity: ^*A11 mj
friends iiave forsaken me -^
'' Vertiginosus ^> inops^ surdusj male gratus amidSp
Deaf, giddy, helpless^ left alone.
To all my fiiehds a hurden grown.**
As be lived much in solitude, be frequently amus^di
himself with writing; and it is very remarkable, that al-
though his mind was greatly depressed, and his principal
enjoyment was at an ^nd when Mrs. Johnson died, yettbero
is an air of levity and trifling in some of the pieces bo
wrote afterwards, that is not to be found in any other ;
such in particular are his '* Directions to Servants,*^ and
several of his letters to his friend Dr. Sheridan* In 173^^
when the attempt was made to repeal the test act in Ire«
land^ the Dissenters often affected to call themselves bro-
ther-protestants^ and fellow-christians, with the members
^ Scholars bare long remarked a groit error in qoaatity, in thia-firrit word>
~ fjdUibltUf itbelD^ long.
8 W I F Tv 6S
yf the established church. UfM>n this^oeeasion the deati
wrote a short copy of verses, which so provoked ooe,B*et«
tesworth, a lawyer, and meaiber of the Irish pariiamenti
that he swore, in the bearing of many persons, to revenge
himself either by murdering or maiming the author; und,
for this purpose, he engaged his footman, with two rutfians,
to secure the dean wherever he could be found. This
being known, thirty of the nobility and gentry within the
liberty of St. Patrick's waited upon the dean in form^ and
presented a paper subscribed with their names, in which
they solemnly engaged, in behalf of themselves and the rest
of the liberty, to defend his person and fortune, as the
friend und benefactor of his country. When this paper
was delivered. Swift was in bed, deaf and'giddy, yet made
a shift to dictate a proper answer. These Bts of<leafness
and giddiness, which were the effects of bis surfeit before
he was twenty years old, became more frequent and violent
in proportion as he grew into years : and in 1736, while he
was writing a satire on the Irish parliament, which he called
•* The Legion Club," he was seized with one of these fits,
the eflect of which was so dreadful, that he left, the poem
unfinished, and never afterwards attiempted a composition,
either^ in verse or prose, that required a course of thinking,
or perhaps more than one sitting to finish.
Fvom this time his memory was perceived gradually to
decline, and his ^ssions to pervert his understanding;
and in 1741, he«was so very bad as to be utterly incapable
of conversation. Strangers were not permitted to approach
him, and hia friends found it necessary .to have guardians
appointed of bis person and estate. Early in 1742, his^
reason was subverted,. and his rage became absolute mad«
ne*^ In October his left eye swelled to the size of an
egg, and several large boils broke out on his arms and body;
the extreme pain of which kept him awake near a month, and
doftng one week it was ^ith difficulty that five persons re-
strained him, by fn^re force, from pulling out his leyes.
Upon the subsiding of these tumours, he knew those about
him ; and appears so far to have recovered his understand-
ing and temper, that there were hopes he^might once more
enjoy society. These hopes, however, were but of stiort
duration ; for, a few days afterwards, he sunk into a state
of total insensibility, an^^ could not, wiAout grentdiffi'^
culty, be prevailed on to walk across the room. This w^
the effect of another bodily disease, his b|ain h^U^S lQa4f4i
Vol. XXIX. F
I
«6
s w I F t:
with water. Mr. Stevens, ao iagenious clergyman oC Dubr
lin, pronounced this to be the case during his illness f
and, upon opening bis body, it appeared that be was not
mistaken. After the dean bad continued silent a. whole
year in this state of helpless idiotism, his housekeeper went
into his room on the 30th of November in the morning,
and told him, ^^ it was his birth-day, and that bonfires and
illuminations were preparing to celebrate it as usual :" to
which he immediately replied, ^^ It is all folly ; they had
better let it alone/* Some other instances of short inter-
vals of sensibility and reason, after bis madness ended 112
stupor, seem to prove, that bis disorder, wb;atever ic was,
had not destroyed, but only suspended, the powers of hit
mind. In 1744, he now and then called his servant by
name; and once attempting to speak to him, but not being
able to express his meaning, he shevved signs of much un*
easiness, and at last said, *' I am a fool.'' Once afterwards,
as his servant was taking away his watch, he said, ^^ Bring
It here :" and when the same servant was breaking a large
bard coal, he said, *^ That is a stone, you blockhead.'^
From this time he was perfectly silent till the latter end of
October 1745, and then died, without the least pang or conr
vulsion, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.
His works have been printed often, and in various forms,
and from them it is easy to collect his character. Of these
the most elegant is in fourteen vols. 4to ; a kind of vario**
rum edition, of which eight were published by Dr. Hawkes*
worth, three by Deane Swift, esq. and three by Mr. Ni<»
chols. These have been reprinted in twenty-five volume*^
large 8vo^ in twenty-seven volumes of a smaller Svo;
and also iu twenty-seven volumes ISmo. In 1784 a new
edition was printed, in seventeen volumes 8voy with ati
elaborate, but most /injudicious Life, or rather panegyric
on. him, by the editor, T. Sheridan, which occupies the
first volume; since which two editions, very much im-
proved, have been published, in nineteen volumes 8vo,
under the superintendence of Mr. Nichols, whose original
care and judgment in collecting information respecting
Swift, and ^ procqring inedited portions of bis works, has
never relaxed, and never been exceeded.
: There are some particulars relating to Swift's conversa-
tion and nianners which may not improperly conclude this
article. He had a rule never to speak more than a minute
at a time, and to wait for others to take up the conv^rsa-
SWIFT. 6f
tibn. He gppeatly excelled in punning; and be used to
say, ^^that none despised that talent, but those who were
without it.*' He excelled no less in telling a story, but
in the latter part of his life he used to tell the same'
too often: he never dealt in the double entendre, or pro-
faneness upon sacred subjects. He loved to have ladies in
the company, because it preserved, he said, the delicacy
of conversation : yet it is certain there are in his writings'
the greatest indelicacies^ He kept his friends in some de-'
gree of awe, yet was more open to admonition than flat-
tery. Though he appeared churlish and austere to his ser-
vants, yet he was in reality a most kind and generous mas-
ter ; and he was also very charitable to the poor. In the
mean time, it must be owned, that there was not any great
softness or sympathy in his nature ; although, perhaps,
not quite so much misanthropy as appears in his writings :
and all allow, that he grew covetous, as he grew old. As
an ecclesiastic, he was scrupulously exact in the exercise
of his function, as well with regard to spiritual as temporal
things. His manner was without ceremony, but not rustic ;
for he had a perfect knowledge of all the mode^ and varia-
tions of politeness, though he practised them in a manner
peculiar to himself. He was naturally temperate, chaste,
and frugal ; and being also high-spirited, and considering
wealth as the pledge of independence, it is not strange that
his frugality should verge towards avarice.
As to his political principles, if his own account may be
taken, he abhorred Whiggism only in those who made it
consist in damning the church, reviling the clergy,
abetting the dissenters, and speaking cdntemptuously of
revealed religion. He always declared himself against a'
popish successor to the crown, whatever title he might have
by proximity of blood ; nor did he regard the right line upon
any other account, thkn as it was established by law, and had
much weight in the opinions of the people. That he was
not at any time a bigot to party, or indiscriminately trans-
ferred his resentment from principles to persons, was so
evident by his conduct, that be was often rallied by the mi-
nisters, for never coming to them without a Whig in his
sleeVe; and though he does not appear to have asked any
thing for himself, yet he often pressed lord Oxford in fa-
vour of Addison, Congreve, Rowe, and Steele. He fre-
quently conversed with all these, choosing his friends by
their personal merit, without any regard to their political
F 2
6B SWIFT.
principles ; and, in particular, bis friendship with Mr. Ad«
dison continued inviolable, and with as much kindness, as
when they used to meet at lord Haiifax*s or lord Somers's,
who were leaders of the opposite party.
By his will, dated in May 1740, just before he ceased to
be a reasonable being, he left about 1200/. in legacies; and
the rest of his fortune, which amounted to about 1 1,.000/,
to erect and endow an hospital for idiots and lunatics. He
was buried in the great aile of St. Patrick's cathedral, under
a stone of black marble, inscribed with the following Latin
epitaph. It was written by himself, and gives a dreadful
picture of the state of mind which could dictate such worda
an such an occasion :
" Hie depositum est corpus
JoVAJHJkV SwiPT, 8. T. P.
Hujus eccksiae cathedralis decani>
Ubi sseva ij^dignatip ulterius cor lacerare nequit*'
Abi^ viator, et imitare.
Si poteris,
Strenuum pro virili libertatis vindicatorem.
Obiit, &c.*
SWIFT (Deane), a near relation to the celebrated dean
of St. Patrick's, being grandson to Godwin Swift, the dean^s
uncle, wa$ in 1739 recommended by Swift to the notice of
Pope, as " the most valuable of any in his family.** — *' He
was first,** says the dean, ^' a student in this university
[Dublin], and finished his studies in Oxford, where Dr.
King, principal , of St. Mary Hall, assured me, that Mr.
Swift behaved with reputation and credit: he hath a very
good taste for wit, writes agreeable and entertaining verses,
and is a perfect master, equally skilled in the best Greek
and Roman authors. He hath a true spirit for liberty, and
with all these advantages is extremely decent and modest.
Mr. Swift is heir to a little paternal estate of our family at
Goodrich, in Herefordshire. He is named Deane Swift,
because his great grandfather, by the mother*s side, was
admiral Deane, who, having been one of the regicides, had
the good fortune to save his neck by dying a year or two
before the Restoration.** He published, in 1755, " An Es-
say upon the Life, Writings, and Character of Dr. Jonathan
Swift;** in 1765, the eighth quarto volume of the dean*s
1 Life by Halrk«iworthl — Sheridan,—- aod Johoioi.— Works Uj Nichoti.' ^
iiKlcx;-*->Pop«*« Workt, BowIm'i cdii'um.
/
SWIFT. «*
^orks; and, in 1768, tw'o volames of his " Letters." Mr.
Swjift.died at Worcester, July 12, 1783 : be had long me-
ditated a complete edition of his reiation's works, arid had
by him many new materials for that purpose. ^
SWINBURNE (Henuy), a law writer, of the seven-
teenth century, was tiie son of Thomas Swinburne of the city
of York, where he was born. In his sixteenth year he was
sent to Oxford, and entered a commoner of Hart-ball,
whence after some time he removed to Broadgate-ball, now
Pembroke college, and there took his degree of baehelor
of civil law. Before he left the university he married He*'
lena, daughter of Bartholomew Lant, of Oxford, and being
then obliged to quit the college, he returned to York, and
practised in the ecclesiastical courts as proctor. He after-
wards commenced doctor of civil law, and became very
eminent in his profession. On Feb. 10, 1612, he was ad-
vanced to be commissary of the Exchequer, and judge of
the prerogative court of the province of York, in which
office he continued till his death. Of this event we have
no direct memorial ; but, as bis will was proved June 1 2,
,1624^ we may presume he died about that time. He
was buried in the cathedral of York, leaving his dwelling
.house in York to his son Toby, and a beuefaction to the
poor of the eity. It appears he was twice married, and that
his second wife's name was Wentworth. He wrote a
'^Treatiseof Spousals, or Matrimonial contracts,'* which
was not published until 1686, 4to; but his more celebrated
work was his ^^ Treatise of Testaments and Last Wills, com-
piled out of the laws, ecclesiastical, civil, and canon, as
also out of the common laws, customs, and statutes of this
realm.'' This work has passed through seven editions, 4to.
1590, 1611, 1635, 1677, 1728, fol. corrected and much en«
. larged in 1743, and lastly in 1803, with valuable atinota*
tions illustrative of the subject to the present time, by the
late John Joseph Powell, esq. and prepared for the press
by James Wake, esq. in 3 vols. 8vo. Mr. Hargrave ob-
serves, that there is a curious dissertation on the customs
of York, in respect to filial portions, which forms a valuable
part of the wprk, but which is not contained in the first edi-
tion, having been afterwards added by Swinburne. Mr.
Hargrave also complains that his later editors have not
been careful to distinguish their own enlargements from
« Swift's Work! hf Nwholt, k^
T0 SWINBURNE,
what belongs to tb6 author, but this is not the case in Pow-
ell's edition, whose annotations are printed distinct from
Swinburne^s text. ^
SWINBURNE (Henry), a learned traveller, and pro^*
bably a descendant of the preceding, was the youngest son
of the late sir John Swinburne, hart, of Capheaton, in Nor-
thumberland, the long-established seat of that ancient Ro*
maa Catholic family. He was educated at Scorton school,
in Yorkshire, and afterwards stu(lied at Paris, Bourdeaux,
and in the royal academy at Turin. He made the usual
tour of Italy ; and, in 1774, travelled with his lady on the
Continent, for the express purpose of indulging their taste
for antiquities and the fine arts. He spent six years in
France, Spain, Italy, and Germany; formed an intimacy
with some of the most celebrated literati of those coun-^
tries, and received spme signal marks of esteem from the
sovereigns of the courts he visited. On his return to Eng-
land he retired to his seat at Hamsterleyy in the bishopric
of Durham, which thenceforth became his principal resi-
dence. He published his Travels in Spain in a quarto vo-
lume, 1779 ; four years after, vol. I. of bis Travels in the
Two Sicilies, and a Ild two years after. Both these
' works have been reprinted in octavo, the first in two, the
other in four, volumes, with improvements. The learning ^
and ingenuity of Mr. Swinburne have been generally ac-
knowledged, and the warmth and animation of his descrip-
tions discover an imagination highly susceptible of every
bounty of nature or art ; but he is perhaps too apt to re-
linquish simplicity for profusion of ornament. He was the
first who brought us intimately acquainted with Spain, and
the arts and monuments of its ancient inhabitants. By the
marriage of his only daughter to Paul Benfield, esq. he be-
came Jn vol ved in the misfortunes of that adventurer, and
obtained a place in the newly-ce$led settlement of Trini-
dad, where be died in April 1303. His library had been
sold by auction, by Leigh and Sotheby, the preceding
year. *
SWINTON (John), a very celebrated English anti^
quary, was a native of the county of Chester, and the son
of John Swinton, of Bextoh in that county, gent. He was
born in 1703. The circumstances of his parents were pro*
^ Atb. Ox. vol. I. — Drake's Eboracum. — Bridgman's Legal Bibliography.
' Nichols's Bowyer.
S W I N T O N. 71
bably not afflaent, as he was entered at Oxford in the rank
of a ser?itor at Wadbaoi college, in October 1719. It may
be presumed that he recoiliinended himself in that society
by his talents and behaviour, for, on June 30, 1723, he wa^'
elected a scholar on a Cheshire foundation in the colleget
In the December following he took his first degree in arts;
Before he became tnaster of arts (which was on Dec. 1,
1726), he had chosen the church for his profession, and
was ordained deacon by the bishop of Oxford, May 30f
1725 ; and was afterwards admitted to priest's orders on
^ay 28, }727. He was not long without some preferment,
being admitted to the rectory of St. Peter le Bailey in Ox*
ford (a living in the gift of the crown), under a sequestra*
tion, and instituted to it in February 1728.. In June the
same year, he was elected a fellow of his college ; but, de*
sirous probably to take a wider view of the world, he ac-
cepted, not long after, the appointment of. chaplain to the
English factory at Leghjorn, to which he had been chosen*
In this situation be did not long enjoy his health, and^
leaving it on that account, he was at Florence in April
1733, where he attended Mr. Coleman, the English envoy,
in his last moments. Mr. Swinton returned through Ve-»
nice and Vienna ; and, in company with «ome English gen»
tlemen of fortune, visited Presburg in Hungary, and was-
present at one of their assemblies.
It is possible that he had not quitted England in the
summer of 1730, for he was elected a fellow of the Royal
Society in June that year, and admitted about three months
later. It was probably while he was abroad that he was
admitted into some foreign societies, namely the academy
degh Apaiisti at Florence, and the Etruscan academy of
Cortoua. On his return be seems to have taken up his
abode at Oxford, where he resided all the latter part of bis
life, and was for many years chaplain to the gaol in that
city. It may be prissumed that he married in 1743 ; it was
then at least that he gave up bis fellowship. In 1759 be
became bachelor of divinity ; in 1767 he was elected Cuj-
tos Archioorum^ or keeper ^ the university records ; and,
on April 4, 1777, be died, in the ^venty ^fourth year of his
age, leaving no diildren. His wife survived till 1784, and
both were buried, with a very short and plain inscription,
in the chapel of Wadbam college.
The monuments of bis literary life were numerous, and
learned, but not of great magnitude. He published, u
Tl S W I N T O N.
'< De Lingus Etrari» Regalis verntcula Dissertatto,'*
Oxon. 1738, 4to, 19 pages. 2. ^ A critical essay coo-i
cerning the words Aoi/ioiy and Aot^iowov, occasioned by two
late inquiries into tbe meaning of the Demoniacks in the
Iblew Testament/* London, 1739, 8vo. 3. ** De priscis
Romanorum Uteris dissertatio/' Oxon. 1746, 4to, 20 pages*
4. ^* De primogenio Etrascorum alphabeto, dissertatio,*'
Oxon. 1746. 5. ** Inscriptiones Citieae : sive in binas In-
scriptiones Phoenicias, inter rudera Citii nuper repertas,
GonjectursB. Accedit de nummis quibusdam Samaritaais
et Phceniciis, vel insolitam prse se iiteraturam ferentibus,'
vel in lucem hactenus non editis, dissertatio,*' Oxford,
1750, 4to, 87 pages. 6. ** Inscriptiones Citiese : sive in
binas alias inscriptiones Phoenicias, inter rudera Citii nu«
per repertas, conjectursB," 4to, 19 pages. 7. " De num-
mis quibusdam Samaritanis et Pbceniciis, vel insolitam pras
se Iiteraturam ferentibus, vel in lucem hactenus non editis,
dissertatio secunda,'* 4to, 36 pages. 8. ** Metilia : sive de
quinario Oentis Metiiise, i nummis vetusti» c»teroquin mi-
nimum notsB, dissertatio," Oxon. 1750, 4to, 22 pages. 9.
Several dissertations published in the Philosophical Trans-
actions of the Royal Society. As, <<A dissertation upon
a Parthian coifi ; with characters on the reverse resembling
those of the Palmyrenes," vol. xlix. p. 593. ** Some re-
marks on a Parthian coin, with a Greek and Parthian le-
gend, never before published," vol. i. p. 16.. ''A disserta-
tion upon the Phoenician numeral characters, anciently'
used at Sidon,'^ vol. i. p. 791. ^< In nummom Parthicura
hactenus ineditum conjecturap, vol. li. p. 683. <' A disser-
tation upon a Samnite Denavtus, never before published,
vol lii. p. 28. ^* An account of a subsrated Denarius of
the Pltetorian family, adorned with an Etruscan inscription
on tbe reverse, never before published or explained,*' vol;
Ixfi p. 60. ** Observations upon five ancient Persiistn coins,
struck in Palestine or Phosnicia, before the dissolution of
the Persian empire, vol. Ixii. p. 345. Other papers by him
may be found in the general index to the Philosophical
Transactions. 10. A part of the ancient universal history,
contained in the sixth and seventh volumes of that great
work. Tihe particulars of this piece of literary history
were communicated by Dr. Johnson to Mr. Nichols, in a
paper printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for December-
1784, p. 892. The original of that paper, which affords a
atrong proof of the steady attachment of Johnson to the
SWINTON. W
1
t
interests of literature, has been, according to his desire, de-
posited in the British Mnseum. The letter is as follows:
« To Mr. Nichols.
" The late learned Mr. Swinton of Oxford having one
day remarked, that one man, meaning, I suppose, no man
but himself, tould assign all the parts of the Universal His-
tory to their proper authors, at the request of sir Robert
Chambers, or of myself, gave the account which I now
transmit to you in his own hand, being willing that of so
great a work the history should be known, and that each
writer should receive his due proportion of praise from pos-
terity. I recommend to you to preserve this scrap of lite-
rary intelligence, in Mr. Swinton's own hand, or to deposit
it in the Museum, that the veracity of the account may ne-
ver be doubted. I am, sir,
your most humble servant,
Dec. 6, 1784. Sam. Johnson.**
The paper alluded to, besides specifying some parts
written by other persons, assigns the following divisions of
the history to Mr. Swinton himself. ** The history of the
Carthaginians, Numidians, Mauritanians, Gaetulians, Ga«
ramantes, Melano-Gsetulians, Nigritse, Cyrenaica, Marma-
rica, the Regie Syrtica, Turks, Tartars, and Moguls, In-
dians, and Chinese, a dissertation on the peopling of Ame-
rica, and one on the independency of the Arabs." *
In ,1740 Mr. Swinton was involved in a law-suit, in con-
sequence of a letter he had published. It appears from one
of the newspapers of the time, that a letter from the Rev*
Mr. Swinton, highly reflecting on Mr. George Baker, hav-
ing fallen into the bands of the latter, the court of King*t
Bench made the rule absolute for an information against
Mr. Swinton. These two gentlemen were also engaged for
some time in a controversy at Oxford ; which took its rise
from a matter relative to Dr. Thistlethwaite, some time war-
<len of Wadham, which then attracted much attention. Mn
Swinton had the manners, and some of the peculiarities
often seen in very recluse scholars, which gave rise to
many whimsical , stories. Among the rest, there is one
mentioned by Mr. Boswell, in the Life of Johnson, as
* This lilt it f iveo in PeshalPs His- the Modern Univerial History the Life
lory of the city of Oxford, p. 171, and of Mobamined and the History of Um
very probably from the author's autbo- Ara)>s.
lity ; but it is added that bt wrote ia
7* SWINTON.
having happened in J 754. Johnson was then on a visk in
the university of Oxford. '^ About this time/* he says,
'* there had been, an execution of two or three criminals at
Oxford, on a Monday* Soon afterwards, one day at. din-
ner, I was saying that Mr. Swinton, the chaplain of the
gaol^ and also a frequent preacher before the university, a
learned man, but often thoughtless and absent, preached
the condemnation sermon on repentance, before the con-
victs on the preceding day, Sunday ; and that, in the close,
he told his audience that be should give them the remainder
of what he had to say on the subject, the next Lord's-day.
Upon which, ope of our company, a doctor of divinity, and
a plain matter-of-fact man, by way of offering an apology
for Mr. Swinton, gravely remarked, that he had probably
preached the same sermon before the university : ** Yes, sir,
(says Johnson,) but the university were not to be hanged
the next morning !'*'
SYBRECHT (John), a landscape painter, was born at
Antwerp, about 1630, and brought up in that city under
his father. He was a close imitator of nature in alt his
landscapes*, and in his younger days went upon the Rhine
and other adjacent places, where he drew several plea-
sant views in water*colours. Having spent more of his
Kfe in that way, than in painting, his drawings were more
valued than his pictures. The duke of Buckingham, pass-
ing through the Netherlands, in his way home from his
embassy into France, stayed some time at Antwerp; where,
meeting with some of this master's works, be was so well
pleased with them, that he invited him oyer to England,
and employed him atCliefden. Sybrecht continued in his
service three or four years, and then worked for the nobi-
lity and gentry of England, continuing in vogue a long
time. He drew several sorts of cattle remarkably well,
and usually contrived to place some of them in his land-
scapes. He died in London about 170S, and was buried
in St. James's church. There are some of his pictures at
Newstede-abbey, lord Byron's, and in other houses belong-
ing to the nobility. In 1686 he made several views of
Cbatsworth.'
SYDENHAM (Floyer), deserves a fuller account than
can now be given of a learned and diligent man, unfortu-
nately altogether unpatronized, who undertook, and ii^
1 PreoediD^r edit of this Diot. > PaktBc;toii.— Walpole's Aa«cd«tcs.
S Y D E N H A M. 7S
part executed, a translation of the works of Plato. His
proposals for this great undertaking were published in a
quarto tract in i759 ; and he produced successively, be*
tween that time and 1767, translation of Ihe '^ 15, a dis-
course on poetry," of " The Greater Hippias," " The
Lesser Hippias," " The Banquet, Part I.*' and " The Ban-
quet, Part 11.'' He is said to have lived /or some years,
and finally to have died, in great indigence. The Gentle-
man's Magazine places his death on April' the 1st, 17S7,
and' adds, that he was born in 1710, and educated at Wad-
ham college, Oxford, where he took the degree of M. A.
April 30, 1734. In an account published by the society
called the Literary Fund, the following narrative of his
death is given : *^ During the summer recess of the year
1788, an event took place, which tarnished the character
of £nglish opulence and humanity, and afflicted the vo-
taries of knowledge. Floyer Sydenham, the well-known
translator of Plato, one of the most useful, if not one of
the most competent Greek scholars of his age; a man re-
vered for his knowledge, and beloved for* the candour of
bis temper and the gentleness of his manners, died in con-
sequence of having been arrested, and detained, for a debt
to a victualler, who had, for some time, furnished his fru-
gal dinner. At the news of that event, every friend of
literature felt a mixture of sorrow and shame ; and one of
the members of a club at the prince of Wales^s coffee-
bouse proposed, that it should adopt, as its object and
purpose, some means to prevent similar afflictions, and to
assist deserving authors and their families in distress.*'
Whether the account reported to these gentlemen, of the
time and manner of Sydenham's death was accurate or not,
the friends of literature and humanity will feel great conso-
lation in finding that it gave occasion to a society so bene-
volent in its designs ; which arosej after a few changes and
Bolodifications, out of the proposal above-mentioned. The
society is now in a flourishing and improving state, and has
given very timely and important assistance to many deserv-
ing authors.^
SYDENHAM (Thomas), a very eminent physician, and
one of the most eminent as an improver of the art that
England has produced, was born in 1624 at Winford Eagle
in. Dorsetshire, where bis father William Sydienham, esq.^
> Prteedio^ edition of this Dictuwary.
76 SYDENHAM.
bad 8 Imrge fortune. Under whose ca^re he was educated,
or in what manner he passed his childhood, is not known.
At the age of eighteen, in 1642, he entered as a com*
inoner of Magdalen-ball, Oxford, where it is not probable
that he continued long ; for he informs us himself, that he
was withheld from the university by the commencement of
the war; nor is it very clearly known in what state. of life
be engaged, or where he resided during that long series of
public commotion. It is indeed reported, that be had a
commission in the king's army*, but no particular account
is given of bis military conduct ; nor are >ye told what rank
be obtained (unless that of a captain), when he entered into
the army, or when or on wbat occasion be retired from
it. It is certain, however, that if ever he took upon htm
the profession of arms, he spent but few years in the camp ;
for in 1648 he obtained at Oxford the degree of bachelor
of physic, for which, as some medical knowledge is neces-
sary, it may be imagined that he spent some time in qua«
lifying himself.
His application to the study of -physic was, as he himself,
relates, produced by an accidental acquaintance wfth Dr.
Cox, a physician eminent at that time in London, who in
some sickness prescribed to bis brother, and, attending him
frequently on that occasion, inquired of him wbat profes-
sion he designed to follow. The young man answering
that he was undetermined, the doctor recommended physic
to him, and Sydenham having determined to follow his ad-'
vice, retired to Oxford for leisure and opportunity to pur-
sue bis studies.
It is evident, says bis biographer, that this convert^ation
must have happened before bis promotion to any degree in.
physic, ~ because he himself fixes it in the interval of hi)B
absence from the university, a circumstance which will en-
^able us to confute many false reports relating to Dr. Syden-*
'ham, which h^ve been confidently inculcated, and impli-
'citly believed. It is the general opinion, that he was made
\ pbrsician by accident and necessity ; and sir ttichard
Blackmore reports in plain terms (in the preface to bis
•* Treatise on the Small- Pox**), that be engaged in prac-
tice without any preparatory study, or previous knowledg^,
i * Sarety not . in the king's army, which he had % brftther,' an ofllder 4f
.This is .^ontrary to ali authority. Hit high rank noentioaeil bere^ft«i) intit
tfommissio'ty, if he had any, must have \% in some measure confirmed 9^j
•^Mn flii tit pariMOitiflary army, in Wood, Our earKeit autbbiHy. •*- "
.SYDENHAM. 77
•f the medicinal sciences ; and affirms, diati when he was
consulted by him what books he should read to qualify him
for the same profession,' he recommended Don Quixote.
That he recommended Don Quixote to Blackmore, we are
not, continues Dr. Johnson, to doubt ; but the relator ifl
hindered by that self-love which dazzles all mankind, from
discovering that he might intend a satire very different
from a general censure of all the ancient and modern wri*
ters on medicine, since he might perhaps mean, either se*
riously or in jest, to insinuate, that Blackmore was not
adapted by nature to the study of physic, and that, whe*
tfaer be should read Cervantes, or Hippocrates, he would
be equally iniqualified for practice, and equally unsuccess*
ful in it. Wha.tever was his meaning, nothing is more
evident, than that it was a transitory sally of an imagina*
tion warmed with gaiety, or the negligent effusiotv of m
mind intent on some other employment, and' in haste tp
dismiss a troublesome intruder ; for it is certain that Syden-
ham did not think it impossible to write usefully on medi^
cine, because he has himself written .upon it ; and it is not
probable that he carried his vanity so far, as to imagine
that no man had ever acquired the same qualiBcations be-
sides himself. He could not but know that he had rather
restored than invented roost of his principles, and therefore
could not but acknowledge the valbeof those writers whose
doctrines he adopted and enforced.
That he engaged in the practice of physic without any
acquaintance with the theory, or knowledge of the opinions
or precepts of former writers, is undoubtedly false, for he
declares that after he had, in pursuance of his conversation
with Dr. Cox, determined upon the practice of physic, be
applied himself in earnest to it, and spent several years ia
the university, before he began to practise in London.
Nor was he satisfied with the opportunities of knowledge
which Oxford afforded, but travelled to Montpellier, ^B
Desault relates ('^ Dissertation on Consumptions^'), in quest
of farther information, Montpellier being at that time the
most celebrated school of physic. It is a common opipipn
that he was thirty years old before he formed his reaoUi-
tion of studying physic ; but this arises from the mj^srepi;^-
sentation of an expression in his dedication to Dr. Maple-
toft, in which he observes that from his conversation With
Dr. Cox to the publication of that treatise thirty years h^d
intervened. The facts already related sufficiently confuie
7»
SYDENHAM.
Uua etrotf since it appears that Sydenham, after baring
beeii fo^ some time absent from the university, returned t^
it in order to pursue his physical inquiries before he was
twenty- four years old; for in 1648, when exactly of that
age, be was admitted to the degree of M. B.
Among other reports respecting this great man, it ha»
also beeh said that he composed his works in English, but^
wM obliged to have recourse to Dr. Mapletoft to translate
them- into Latin. This has been asserted by Ward in his
Lives of the Gresham professors, but without bringing any
proof* ; and it is observable that his *^ Processus Integri,*'
published after his death, discovers alone more skill in the
Latin language than is commonly ascribed to him. It is
likewise asserted by sir Hans Sloane, with whom he was
familiarly acquainted, that Dr. Sydenham was. particularly
versed in the writings of the great Roman orator and phi*
losopher; and there is evidently such a luxuriance in his
style, as may discover the author who gave him most plea-
sure, and most engaged his imitation.
About the same time that he became bachelor of physic,
be obtained, by the interest of a relation, a fellowship of
All Souls^ college, having submitted, by the subscription .
required, to the authority of the visitors appointed by the
parliament, upon what principles, or how consistently with
bis former conduct, it is now impossible to discover f.
When he thought himself qualified for practice^ he fixed
his residence in Westminster, became doctor of physic at
Cambridge, received a licence from the college of phy-
sicians, and lived in the first degree of reputation, and the
greatest afBuence of practice, for many years, without any'
other enemies than those which he raised by the superior
merit of his conduct, the bright lustre of his abilities, or
his improvements of his science, and his contempt of per-
nicious methods supported only by authority in opposition
to sound reason and indubitable experience. These men
are indebted to him for concealing their names, when he
^ Dr. Ward did bring his proofs,
in\ letter sent to the Gent Mag. vol.
XUT. in which however be endeavours
to obviate the conclusion that might
be drawn from his first assertion,
namely that Sydenham was not ca-
pable of translating his works into
Latin, and this he has done very can-
didly and very satisfactorily.
f This mistake is founded on that
mentioned in the last note but one.
Wood informs us that he would not,
from the first, join the young students
who took up arms in defence of thQ
king. There was nothing therefore in
his present conduct inconsistent witb
his former.
Y D E N H AM.
'^9
records their malice, since tbey have thereby eseapf$4 the
contempt and detestatioa of posterity*.
Dr. Sydenbami however, was not destined for long \\(e.
His health began to fail in the fifty-second year of his age^
by frequent attacks of the gout, to which ^he had long been
subject, and which afterwards was accompanied with the
stone in the kidneys, and its natural consequence, bloody
urine. These were distempers, says his elegant biogra*
pber, which even the art of Sydenham could only palliate,
without hope of a perfect cure, but which, if he has not
been able by his precepts to instruct us to remove, he has,
at least, by his example taught us to bear ; for he never
betrayed any indecetit impatience, or unmanly dejection^
under his torments, but supported himself by the reflee-
tions of philosophy, and the consolations of religion, and
in every interval of ease applied himself to the assistance
of others with his usual assiduity. After a life thus usefully
employed, he died at his house in Pall-mall, Dec. 29,
1689, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and was buried in
the aile, near the south door, of the church of St. James's^
Westminster.
His works have been collected and frequently printed at
London in one volume 8vo. The last edition is that by
John Swan, M. D. of Newcastle in Staffordshire, 1742.
To this is prefixed a life of Dr. Sydenham, by Dr. Johnson,
which we have chiefly followed in the preceding account.
His works were also printed at Leipsic in 1711, at Geneva
in 1716, in 2 vols. 4to, and at Leyden in Svo. They were
written by himself in English, but translated afterwards
into Latin, of which it is our opinion he was fully capable,
although these translations, as already noticed, have been
attributed to Dr. Mapleto ft and others. The last English
edition is that by Dr. George Wallis, 1788, 2 vols. Svo, with
notes and opinions of subsequent medical writers.
* *« The great Sydenham, for all
bis labours, only gamed the sad and
uojuftt recoiBpence of calumny and
ignominy: and that from the emula-
tio]!i of some of his collegiate breth-
ren and others, whose indignation at
length arose to that height, that they
endeavoured to banish him, as guilty
of medicinal heresy, out of that illus*
trious society ; and by the whispering
of others he was baulked the employ-
ment of the royal family, where before
be was called among the first physi-
ciaai. .Yet some patrons this great
and good man had among his breth-
ren, as Goodall, Brady, Gaman, and
Dr. Cole of Worcester, as may be
seen by their epistles in bis works.
Dr. JVIickletbwait a little before hia
deaths did profess, notwithltanding all
the attempts of several against the
methods of Sydenham, that these
Would prevail, and triumph over all
other methods : and the event has
fully verified this prediction of Dr.
MicklethwaiU" MS. communicated
by C^r. Lettsom to the Qent. Mag. to!,
LXXI. p. 684.
ei) SYDENHAM.
Sydenham has frequently been called the father of pby-
aic among the moderns. He tells us, in the preface to his
works^ that '^ the increase and perfection of the medical
^rt is to be advanced by these two m^ans : by composing
an history of distempers, or a natural and exact descrip-
tion of distempers and their symptoms ; and by deducing
and establishing a method of cure from thence/^ This is
the way which that great delineator of the right road to
real knowledge in all its various branches, lord Bacon, had
pointed out ; and its being more closely pursuecl by Syden-
ham than by any modern physician before him^ is what has
justly entitled him to those high encomiums which have
ever been paid him. Sir Richard Blackmore allows, and
all are now convinced, that Sydenham, *^ who built all his
masims and rules of practice upon repeated observations
on the nature and properties of diseases, and the power of
remedies, has compiled so good an history of distempers,
and so prevalent a method of cure, that he has improved
and advanced the heating art much more than Dr. Willis
with all his curipus speculations and fancifut hypotheses .^^
He relates of himself, in his dedication to Dr. Mapletoft,
that ever since he had applied himself to the practice of
physic, he bad been of opinion, and the opinion had been
every day more and more confirmed in him, that the me-
dical art could not be learned so surely as by use and ex-
perience; and that he, who should pay the nicest and
most accurate attention to the symptoms of distempers,
would infallibly succeed best in searching out the true
means of cure. **' For this reason," says he, " I gave my-
self up entirely to this method of proceeding, perfectly se-
cure and confident, that, while I followed nature as ray
guide, I could never err." He tells him afterwards, that
Mr. Locke approved his method, which he considered as
no, small sanction to it; and what he says upon this occa-
sion of Mr. Locke is worth transcribing: ^* Nosti prse-
terea, quern huic mese methodo sufFragantem habeam, qui
earn intimius per omnia perspexerat, utrique nostrum con-
junctissimum dominum Joannem Locke ; quo quidem viro,
live ingenio judicioqne acri & subacto, sive etiam antiquis,
hoc est, optimis moribus, vix superiorem quenquam^ inter
•OS qui nunc sunt homines repertum iri confido ; paucissi-
mos certe pares.^* There are some Latin elegiac verses by
Mr. Locke, addressed to Sydenham^ prefixed to bis '^Tr«a-
tis« ujjMn fevers/*
StDEKHAM. ii
Mt. Granger has remarked that Sydenham received
' higher honours from foreign physicians than from his coun*
trymen* This, however^ applies only to his contempo«
raries, for no modern English physician has ever mentione4
Sydenham unless in terms of high veneration. The enco*
miums of Boerhaave and Haller are well known to medical
readers. His great merit consists in the accurate descrip*
tions which he has left us of several diseases which first
became conspicuous in his time. His account of the small-
pox, and of his medical treatment of that diseases, is admi«-
rable, and contributed in no small degree to establish his
celebrity. He was the first person who introduced the
cooling regimen in fevers, a method of treatment frequently
attended with the happiest effects^ though it must be ac-
. knowledged that be did liot sufficiently distinguish between
the typhus and the inflammatory fever, and on that ac«
couot he sometimes carried his bleedings to an excess. He
contributed also essentially to introduce the Peruvian bark
as a cure for intermittents.
He had nn elder brother William, who was some time
gentleman commoner of Trinity college in Oxford, and,
entering into the parliament's army, acquitted himself so
well, that be rose, by several gradations^ to the highest
post and dignities. In 1649, he was appointed governor of
the Isle of Wight, and made vice-admiral of that isle and
Hampshire. In 1653, he was summoned to parliament for
Dorsetshire; in 1654, made commissioner of the treasury,
and member of the privy-qouncil ; and in 1658, summoned
to parliameint by the protector Richard Cromwell. This
connection, together with his own principles and former
engagements, would probably binder Dr. Sydenham from
being a very popular pbysician, during the period of his
. flourishing, that is, iu the reigns of Charles IL and
James II. ; yet he seems to have owed more of his neglect to
the envy of bis contemporary brethren.
His biographer remarks that Dr. Sydenham's skill in
physic ** was not bis highest excellence; that his whol^ cha-*
racter was amiable ; that his chi^f view was the benefit of
mankind, and the chief motive of his. actions the will of
God, wbom be mentions with reverence, well becoming
the most enlightened and most penetrating mind. He was
benevolent, candid, and communicative, ^incere» and re^i-^
gious ; qualities^ which it were happy if they f Qf||f^ HRI^F
VOL.XXIX, G
S2 & Y K E S.
from him, who emulate his knowledge, and imitate hb
inetbpds." *
SYKES (Arthur Ashley), a divine of the. church of
England, but to whom that church was little indebted^ was
the son of Mr. Arthur Sykes, of Ardely or Yardly in Hert-
fordshire, and was born in London about 1684^ He was
educated at St. Paul's school under the celebrated Mr.
Postlethwayte, and was admitted of Corpus Christi college,
Cambridge, in 1701, under the care of the rev« Charles
Kidman, B. D. tutor of that college. In Feb. 1701-2 be
was appointed a scholar of the house. While an under-^
fraduate he wrote some Hebrew verses on the death of
ing William, which were printed in the Cambridge coU
lection on that occasion. He took the degree of B. A. in
1704*5, and proceeded M. A. in 1708. After leaving col-
lege he was employed for sopie time as one of the assistants
at St. Paul's school, but quitted this situation as ioconsist*
ent with the prosecution of his private studies. In 1712-1 3
be was collated to the vicarage of Godmersham in Kent by
archbishop Tenison, who had a great personal regard for
him, and was a generous patron to the members of Corpus
Christi, of which he had himself been fellow. In April
1714 he was instituted to the rectory of Dry-Drayton in
Cambridgeshire, on the presentation of the duchess dow-
ager of Bedford^ and in August followiog he resigned his
vicarage of Godmersham in Kent. In Nov. 1718, be was
instituted to the rectory of Rayleigh in Essex, which he
retained to his death, but now resigned the living of Dry-
Drayton. In Dec^ following, at a meeting of the gover-^
nor% and directors of King-street chapel^ Golden-square,
be was unanimously appointed afternoon preacher at that
place, which is a chapel of ease to St. Jameses Westmin-
ster, of which his friend Dr. Clarke was then rector. la
.1721, on the morning preachership becoming vacant by
. Dr. Wilcocks's promotion to the see of Gloucester> Mr.
Sykes was unanimously appointed to -succeed him. In
January 1723-4 he was collated to the prebend of Alton-
Borealis in the cathedral of Salisbury, by bishop Hoadly,
and three years afterwards his lordship appointed him to
the prsecentorship of the same cathedral, yacant by the
^eatb of their common friend Dr. Daniel Whitby. Iii
1 Life by Dr. JohBiOB.—Biog. Brit.— Birch'f Livet.— A^L Ox. T©1. II.—
ThMBioB'ft liift. of ih« Royal Society.
S Y K E S. SS
Ajpril 1725, upon the nomination of Dr. Clarke, he was
appointed assistant preacher at St. James's church, West-
minster. In 1726 he proceeded to take the degree of
D. D. in the university of Cambridge. In Feb. 1739 he
was advanced to the deanry of St. Burien in Cornwall,
which is in the patronage of the crown ; and on October
15, 1740, he was collated to a prebend in the cathedral of
Winchester, through the friendship of his former patron
bishop Hoadiy, who had been translated to the see of
Winchester in 1734. His ecclesiastical promotions seem
to have ended here.
Duruig many years Dr. Sykes had been greatly afBicted
ivith the gout and stone, but had received much relief from
the pains of the latter disorder, for fifteen or sixteen years
before his death, by the medicine purchased by parlia-
ment of Mrs. Stephens, for the public use. And upon the
whole be enjoyed a general state of good health and spirits,
until he was seized with a stroke of the palsy, while attend-
ing the funeral of a friend, on Monday evening, Nov. 15,
1756, and died, at his house in Cavendish-square, at two
o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday the 23d, in the seventy-
third year of his age. He was buried near the pulpit in
the parish church of St. James*s Westminster on the 30th
of November. Dr. Gregory Sharpe, who succeeded him
in King-street qhapel, and was afterwards master of the
Temple, and who had long been in habits of friendship with
the deceased, officiated upon this occasion.
Dr. Sykes had been married many years to Mrs. Eliza-
beth Williams, a widow lady, and a native of Bristol, but
bad no children by her. He left the whole of his fortune,^
which was considerable, to her for life, and afterwards to
.his brother the rev, George Sykes, rector of Rayleigh in
Essex, and vicar of Preston in Kent. Mrs. Sykes died in
January 1763, and was buried near her husband in St.
James's church.
; Dr. Sykes .was a divine of the school, of Clarke and
Hoadiy, who, while they made it the business of their lives
to oppose the distinguishing doctrines of the established
church, were content to enjoy both its dignities and emo-
lument8« . Such men have been well represented by an in-
geni9us. critic*, as holding a grand debate between con-
victioQ «nd interest^ and endeavouring to accommodate
♦ Monthly Reritw, to). LXXill. p. 807.
02
84 S Y K E 8.
matters with As much ease as possible between both; a
sort of half-way reformers^ who endeavour to find out the
secret band which will unite the two opposite extremes^
and coalesce, in one mass^ the most heterogeneous quali*
ties of inward persuasion and outward profession. Tbejr
subscribe articles which they do not believe^ and reconcile
it to their conscience by calling them articles of peace and
not oi faith; and by this principle of accommodation they
endeavour to secure the character of the ^ children of
light,^* without wholly relinquishing the good things whidi
fall to the share of the " children of the world."
' Such was Dr. Sykes, who in all his controversial writings
(and the greater part of his writings were of that kind) en-
deavoured to lay open the church to persons of the most
opposite sentiments, especially those approaching the So-
cinian scheme, and therefore argues in one of his tracts,
that <^ ajatitude of opinion is intended and allowed by the
legislature to subscribers, as thfey are members of the
church of England,'' which the more recent author of
'^ The Confessional" has amply refuted. It was of course
very natural for Dr. Sykes, at a subsequent period, to main-
tain, in other pamphlets, that the fences which the church
has determined to secure against innovfiition are of no im-
portance.
His publications amount in the whole to sixty-three.
Most of these are only pamphlets on temporary topics, and
are now little known or sought after; but the following
have been thought to possess a more permanent character:
'^ Essay on the Truth of the Christian Religion; wherein
its real foundation upon the Old Testament is shown ;'*
this was published in 1725 against Collins; and ^^The
principles and connexion of Natural and Revealed Religion
distinctly considered," 1740, 8vo.^
SYLBURGIUS (Frederic), a learned German, emi-
nent for his great skill in Greek, was born at Marpurg, in
"the landgraviate of Hesse, in 1546, or, as Saxius says,
1536. His father, who was a farmer, gave him a liberal
education, of which he inade so good a use, as to become
pei^fect in the Latin, French, and Greek languages, at a
time when the latter was understood by very few. He was
a school-master at Licfaa, for some of the first years of hit
life ; but afterwards quitted that employment, and applied
' Memoirs of th« life and Writings <$f Dr. Syl^es, by Br. Disney, 17S5, St*.
SYLBURGIUS. 85
hioiself wholly to the revision and correction of ancient
authors, the Greek particalarly ; many of which, still held
in estimation, were published by him, from the presses of
Wecfael and CommeUn« Among these were Aristotle^
Herodotus, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Dion Cassius, Jus*
tin Martyr, Clemens Alexandrinus, Theodoret, &c. He
gave some assistance to Henry Stephens in compiling his
^ Tt^esaurus GrseccB lingusB ;" and was also the author of a
Greek grammar, which was much valued, a Hebrew gram-
mar, notes upon Clenardus^ &c. For these and other ser«
vices, he had an annual stipend allowed him by the uni-
versity of Marpurg. He was universally well spoken of by
the learned, and died much lamented by them in 1596.
*^ Unhappy event,*' says Casaubon, *^ to the republic of
letters ! for, a few days before his death, he sent me word
by Commelin of many new labours projected and begun*
The lovers of Greek have more especially reason to deplore
the loss of him." ' >
SYLVESTER (Joshua), the laborious and quaint trans-
lator of Dtt Bartas, was born in 1563, and died Septem-
ber 28, 16I8, His death happened at Middleburg in Hol-
land. By what circumstances he was induced, or com-
pelled, to quit his native country we have not discovered ;
but John Vicars, his friend, who styles him ** the best of
Poets," speaks of it as a reproach to his country*
And hadst thou dy*d at home it had been better ;
It would (at least) have giv'n thee much content i
But herein England's worthy to be shent^
Which to thy worth did prove so bad a debtor.
Nor minde I this, but then I blush for shame^
To think, that though a cradle thee it gave.
Yet (O unkinde) deny'd thy corps a grave j
Much more a statue resold to thy name«
He was, in 1597, a candidate for the office of secretary
to the company of merchant adventurers at Stade, of which
he was a member ; on which occasion the unfortunate earl
of Essex interested himself in his favour, and wrote two
letters in his behalf, dated from the , court on the last of
April ; a private one to Mr. Ferrers, the deputy -governor,
recommending Mr. Sylvester as an able and honest man ;
and a general one to the company, to the same purpose,
in which he mentions that he had received a very good
1 Melchior Adam«^-Scaligftr in Scaligeraais Secundii— Fabric* Bibl. Grac—
8txii ODomasL
86 SYLVESTER.
report of his sufficiency and fitness for the post of secretary,
being both well qualified with language, and many other
good parts, and honest and of good conversation ; two
especial motives of his lordship's request in bis behalf.
Sylvester's translation of DuBartas is dedicated to l^ing
James ; and among those who pay him the highest compli-
ments appears Ben Jonson, whom tradition makes an inti-
mate friend, and, as some think, a relation. He translated
also the Quatrains of Pibrac, and many other pieces of
French poetry ; with some from the Latin of Fracastorius,
&c. One of his own pieces has the ridiculously quaint;
title of ^^ Tobacco battered, and the pipes shattered, (about
their ears that idlely idolize so base and barbarous a weed ;
or at least-wise over-love so loathsome a vanitie :) by a vol-
ley of holy shot thundered from mount Helicon.'* This may
be supposed to have been written to please the great enemy
of tobacco, James L Not much can now be said in favour
of his compositions, either the translations, or those that
are original, although he gained greater reputation from
the former than the latter. Dryden tells us, in the Dedi-
cation to the Spanish Fryar, that *^ when he was a boy, he
thought inimitable Spenser a mean poet, in comparison of
Sylvester's Dubartas," and ^* was wrapt into an ecstacy
when he read these lines :
" Now when the winter's keener breath began
To crystallize the Baltic ocean ;
To glaze the lakes, to bridle up the floods^
And periwig with snow the bald-pate woods.*'
He seeo^s to have been always in great poverty, and
very earnest in courting the great for relief. He appears,
in a dedication to the parliament, to allude to some person
of the name of Bowyer, as the cause of bis ruin ; for he
subscribes,
*^ Your under-clarke, unworthily undon
By over trusting to a starting Boto^
Yer — while too strong^^ to my poor wrong and woe.'*
He was apparently much admired in his time, and yet was
neglected ; so that the most probable cause for his exile
was the fear of a gaol at home. '
SYLVESTRE*
* A referenee was made from Ferrarietuis to Sylvestre, but this person ap-
pears too iusi^uificant for notice.
1 Ath. Ox. Tol. I. — Phillips's Theatrum, by sir £. Brydges. — Cens. Lit. vol. II.
— Dudster's Considerations on Milton's Early Reading, 1800.— Geot. Mag. vol*
LXX and LXXV.— Ellis's Specimeos, &c.
SYLVIUS. 87
SYLVIUS, or DUBOIS, or DELEBOE <James), a ce-
lebrated physician of France, was the son of Nicholas dur
Bois, a camblet- weaver, who had eleven sons and four
daughters. He was born at Amiens in Picardy, in 1478,
and went through a course of classical learning, under bis
elder hrother Francis Sylvius; who was principal of the
college of Tou'rnay at Paris, and was a great promoter of
letters in that age of barbarism. There he learned the
Latin language, in much greater purity than it had been
taught for a long time ; and hence it was, that his writings
are distinguished to such advantage by the elegance of the
style. ^ He became a very accomplished scholar in Latin
and Greek, and had some litde knowledge of the Hebrew ;
and applied himself also to mathematics and mechanics so
succesisfuUy, as to invent machines, which. deserved public
iiotipe. When the time was come for giving himself en*-
tirely up to ph^'sic, to which study hid inclination had
always led him, he traced it to its sources ; and engaged
so deeply in the reading of Hippocrates and Galen, that
he scarcely, did any thing but examine and translate those
two authors. He discovered from thence the importance
of anatomy, and applied himself to it so ardently, that he
became as great a master as tbat^ge would permit. He
studied pharmacy with no less care,vai»d took several jour^
neys to see, upon the spot, the medicines which different
countries produce. Upon his return^ to Paris, he read
lectures, and explained in two years a eourse of physic
from Hippocrates and Galen ; which. so much extended his
reputation, that scholars from all parts of Eurpp^ resorted
to. him. But being prohibited at last from teachmg as not
having taken his degree, he went to Montpellier in 1520
for that purpose, but not being willing to pay the expences
of graduation, he returned to Paris, and by an agreement
with the faculty, recommenced his lectures, although only
a bachelor of pby.8ic. In .1535 he taught in the college of
Treguier, while Fernelius taught in that of Cornouailles ;
but the latter had few scholars, while the former had about
five hundred. The reason of this difference was, that
Sylvius dissected bodies, and read lectures upon botany
and the preparation of medicines, advantages which the
scholars of Fernelius had not. The professorship of physic
in the royal college becoming vacant in 1548, Sylvius wa:i
nominated to fill it ; which he did, after hesitating about
it two years. He continued iu it till his death, which hap-
«S S Y L V I U S^
pened Jan. 13, 1555* He was never married,' and shev^ed
^ven an arersiou to women. His personal character was
particularly obnoxious. His behaviour was rude and bar*'
|>arous. He bad nothing social in bis temper^ or ever de-
parted from a certain pompous stiffness; and it was observed
that when be attempted to relax, be did it aukwardly.
The only witticism related of him is, that *^ he had parted
with three beasts, bis cat^ bis mule, and his maid.'* His
avarice was extreme, and he lived in the most sordid man-
ner : he allowed his servants nothing but dry bread, and
bad no fire all the winter* Two things served him as a
remedy against cold ; he played at foot^rball, and carried
9. great log upon bis shoulders : and he said that the beat
which he gained by this exercise was more beneficial to
bis health than that of a fire. He was most rigid in de-
ikianding bis fees from bis scholars, yet was puzzled often
what to do with bis money, for when, in 1616, hia hbpse
in the rue de St, Jacques was pulled down, the workmen
found many pieces of gold, which be had probably hid and
knew not where to find. This avarice, which was bis rul-
ing passion, exposed him to the wit of his contemporaries.
Buchanan has a distich on him, beginning '' Sylvius bio
situs est, gratis qui nil dedit unquam, &c.*' and a dialogue
was published under the title of <^ Sylvius ocreatus,'* or
'^ Sylvius booted," of which it was thought that Henry
Stephens was the author, by the assumed name of Ludo-*
vicus Arrivabenus Mantuanus. It is founded on this sup-
position that Sylvius, wishing to pass Acheron without
paying anything, went in boots that be might ford it.
This satire was answered by John Melet, one of his pupilsy
who adopted the name of Claudius Burgensis, and entitled
bis performance ^* Apologia in Lud. Arrivabenum pro D. J«
Silvio."
The various works of Sylvius which had been published
separately were collected by Ren6 Moreau, under the
title ^' J. Sylvii opera medica in sex partes digesta, Casti-
gata, &c.'' Geneva, 1630, foL with a life of the author,
the sathre and answer just mentioned, and Sylvius's Latin
poetry, which firsi appeared in 1584, 4to. He was a
strenuous adherent to Galen, except in his love of judicial
astrology,^ which Sylvius opposed* The French have some
translations from his works, to which may be added, not
in the preceding volume, a Latin and French grammar
printed at Paris in 153 L He lived upon very bad terms
SYLVIUS-
S9
with Vesaliufy who occasioned him the greatest vexation
lie ever suffered. Sylvius, whose exceUence lay in ana<^'
lomy, liad prepared a work upon that subject, which he
considered as a master-piece. Upon this, Vesalius pub«
lished, in 1541| his ^^Opus Anatomicunii'* which was so
well written, and illustrated with so many beautiful figures^
that it was universally admired. Two circumsta.nces ag«
gravated this grievance; Vesalius had been Sylvius^s pupil;
und he had attacked Gsden, whom Sylvius defended,, even
in his errors.^
SYMMACHUS (Quintus Aureuus), a citizen and se«
nator of ancient Rome, and consul in the year 391, has
left us ten books of epistles ; from which, as well as from
other tbiogsj we collect, that he was a warm opposer of
the Christian religion. This he shews particularly in the
sixty-first .epistle of the tenth book, addressed io the em*
petor Valentihian, whom be petitioned in iavour of pa«
ganism. He was very unfortunate, after having enjoyed a
high degree of favour at court. The emperor Theodosiu*
thought proper to desire that he would protiounce his pa-
negyric before him ; but when be heard that Symmachus
had been equally liberal in his praises of the tyrant Maxi»
mus, who reigned before him, and to whom Theodosius
himself had submitted from political Motives, he banished
Symmachus, and persecuted him so even tn his exile, that
with all his prejudices in favour of paganism, he was
obliged to take refuge in a Christian church to save his life.
AmmianusMarcellinuS' speaks of him as a man of great
learning and modesty ; and his epistles shew him to have
been a man of acute parts, and of eloquence, such as elo-
quence was in his time, that is, vei^bose and florid. Sci-
oppius, Parens, and other learned men, have written notes
upon the epistles of Symmachus : but we know of no later
Edition of them than that of Leyden, 16S3, l2mo. The
first edition, which has no date, but probably was printed
between 1503 and 1S13, is veiy rare and valuable. Am-
brose, bishop of Milan, wrote against Symmachus ; and so
did the Christian poet Prudentius.'
SYNESIUSy an ancient father and bishop of the Chris«;
tian church, flourished at the beginning of the fifth cen-
tury. He was born at Cyrene in Africa, a town situated
^ £loy D'ltU Hitt de MedeciDe.— Bi<{g. Udit. art. DuboU.— NiMroDy vol*
XXIX.
! CftTty vol. I.-«Fabrtcii Bibl. Lat.— Bkrant't Censnra.-^Saxii Onomait.
90 S Y N E S I U S.
upon the borders of Egypt, and afterwards trarelied to the
neighbouring couutry for improTement, where be happily
succeeded in bis studies under the celebrated female philo^
sopher Hypatia, who presided at that time over the Pla«
tonic school at Alexandria, where also the eminent mathe^p
maticians Theon, Pappus, and Hero ti^ught. Nicephorus,
patriarch of Constantinople, who wrote annotations, on a
piece of Synesius, called ^* De insomniis," represents hioi
as a man of prodigious parts and learning ; and says, that
'' there was nothing he did not know, no science wherein
he did not excel, no mystery in which he was not initiated
and deeply' versed." His works are in high esteem with
the curious ; and his epistles, in Suidas's opinion, are ad-*
mirable, and in that of Photius, as well as Evagrius, ^*ele*.
gant, agreeable, sententious, and learned." Synesius was
a man of noble bicth, which added no less weight to his
learning, than that reflected lustre on his quality ; and
both together procured him great credit and authority. He
went, about the year 400, upon an embassy, which lasted
three years, to the emperor Arcadiusat Constantinople, on
the behalf of his country, which was miserably harassed
by the auxiliary Goths and other barbarians ; and it was
then, as he himself tells us, that ^< with greater bold-
ness than any of the Greeks, he pronounced before the
emperor an oration concerning government.'* About the
year 410, when the citizens of Ptolemais applied to Theo-
pbilus of Alexandria for a bishop, Synesius was appointed
Und consecrated, though he took all imaginable pains to
decline the honour. He declared himself not at all con-
vinced of the truth of some of the most important articles
of Christianity. He^ was verily persuaded of the existence
of the soul before its union with the* body ; he could not
conceive the resurrection of the body ; nor did he believe
that the world should ever be destroyed. He also owned
himself to have such an affection for his wife, that be
would not consent, either to be separated from her, or to
live iti a clandestine manner with her; and told Theophilus^
that, if he did insist upon making him a bishop, be must
leave him in possession of his wife and all his notions.
Theophilus at length submitted to these singular terms,
*' upon'a presumption," it is said, ^^that a man, whose
life and manners were in every respect so exemplary, could
not possibly be long a bishep without being enlightened
with heavenly truth. Nor," continues Cave, " was Theo-
8YNESIU9. 9t
]^hilus deceived ; for Synesius was no sooneir seated in his
bishopric, than he easily acquiesced in the doctrine of the
resurrection.'* Baronius says in his Annals, <^ that he does
hot believe these singularities x)f Synesius to have been his
real sentiments ; but only that he jpretended them, with a
view of putting a stop to the importunities of Theophilus^
and of warding off this advancement to a bishopric, which
was highly disagreeable to him.'* That the advancement
was highly disagreeable to Synesius, is very certain ; but
it is likewise as certain, that Baronius's supposition is
without all foundation. There is extant a letter of Syne «
sius to his brother, of which an extract may be given, as
illustrative of his character and opinions.
'^ I should be exceedingly to blame if I did not return
most hearty thanks to the inhabitants of Ptolemais, for
thinking me worthy of such honours, as I own I do not
think myself worthy of : yet it is highly incumbent on me
to consider, not only the great things they offer, but
how far it may be prudent in me to accept them. — Now,
the more I reflect upon it, the more I am convinced of my
own inability to sustain the ofHce and dignity of a bishop ;
and I will frankly tell you my thoughts upon this occasion.
— While I had nothing to support but the character of a
philosopher, I acquitted myself, I may say, with tolerable
credit ; and this has made some imagine that I am (it to be
a bishop. But they have not considered, with what dif*
ficulty the mind acquires a new bent ; that is, adapts itself
to a province it has hitherto been a stranger to. I for my
part am afraid, that by quitting the philosopher, and put-
ting on the bishop, I should spoil both characters, that my
new honours should make me arrogant and assuming, de-
stroying at once the modesty of the philosopher ; and yet
that I should not be able to support them with a becomings
dignity. For only consider my way of life hitherto. My
time has always been divided between books and sports.
In the hours of study nothing can be more retired, but in
our sports every body sees us ; and you know very well,
that no man is fonder of all -kinds of recreations than my-
self. You know also, that I have an aversion to civil em-
ployments, as indeed my education, and the whole bent of
my studies, have been quite foreign to them. But a bishop
ought to be, as it were, a man of God, averse to pleasures
and amusements, severe in his manners, and for ever em-
ployed in the concerns of his flock. Jt requires a happy
92 SYNESIUS.
complication of qualities to do all this as it should be dofie ;
to sustain such a weight of care and business; to be per-
petually conversant with the affairs of men ; and yet to
keep himself unspotted from the world. It is true, I see
this done by some men, and I highly admire and re^re
them for it ; but I am myself incapable of doing it ; and I
will not burthen my conscience with undertaking what X
know I cannot perform. But I have still farther reasons
for declining this charge, which I will here produce ; for
though I am writing to you, yet I beg this letter may be
made public : so that, whatever may be the result of thit
r aflfair, or which way soever I may be disposed of, I may^
at least, stand clea^r with God and man, and especially
with Tbeophilus, when I sl^U have dealt thus openly and
fairly. I say then, that God, the laws of the land, and
the holy hands of Tbeophilus, have given me a wife : but
I declare to all men, that I will neither suffer myself to be
separated from her, nor consent to live like an adulterer in
a clandestine manner : the one I think ipipious, the other
unlawful. I declare further, that it will always be my
earnest desire and prayer, to have as many children by her
as possible. Again, let it be considered' how difficult, or
rather how absolutely impossible it is, to pluck up those
doctrines, which by the means of knowledge are rooted in
the soul to a demonstration. But you know, that philo*
sophy is diametrically opposite to the doctrines of Chris*
tianity ; nor shall I ever be able to persuade myself, for
instance, that the soul had no existence before its union
with the body, that the world and all its parts will perish
together, and that the trite and thread-bare doctrine of
the resurrection, whatever mystery be couched under it,
can have any truth in it, as it is professed by the vulgar. A
philosopher, indeed, who is admitted to the intuition of
truth, will easily see the necessity of lying to the people ;
for light is to the eye^ what truth is to the people. The
eye cannot bear too much light; nay, if it is under the
least indisposition, it is actually relieved by darkness : in
like manner fable and falsehood may be useful to the people^
while unveiling the truth may do them hurt. If, therefore^
this method be consistent with the duties of the episcopal
dignity; if I may freely philosophize at home, while I
preach tales abroad ; and neitherv teach nor un teach, but
suffer people to retain the prejudices in which they were
educated, I may indeed be consecrated ; but if they shall
SYNESIUS. 8S
say, that a bishop ought to go farther, and not only apeak,
but think like the people, I must declare off, &c.'^
Besides rejecting the doctrine of the resurrection of the
body, in bis <^ Hymns" Synesius adapts the triad, or rather
quaternion of the schools, to the received Christian doc»
trine of the Trinity. If the language of these mystical
odes, -says Brucker, be compared with that of the gnostics
and cabbalists, with the theology of Proclus, and the Zo-
roastrean oracles, it will be easily seen that Synesius was
a more worthy disciple of Hypatia than of Jesus Christ.
His work^ were published, together with those of Cyril of
Jerusalem, by Petavius at Paris, 1612; and afterwards,
with an addition of notes, in 1633, folio. . They are far
from being voluminous, consisting only of about one hun-
dred and 6fty epistles, and some small pieces. He is
chiefly celebrated for his eloquence, an elegant specimen
of which remains in his '< Dion/' a treatise on the manner
in which he instructed himself. '
SYNGE (Edward), a pious and leari^ed archbishop of
Tuam in Ireland, was the second son of Edward, bishop of
Cork, &c. and was born April the 6tb, 1659, at Inishonane,
•of which parish his father was then vicar. He was educated
at the grammar school at Cork, and thence admitted a
commoner at Christchurch, Oxford, where he took the
degree of B. A. but on bis father's death returned to Ire-
land, and finished his studies in the university of DubliBt
m& first preferment was two small parishes in the diocese
of Meath, both together of about the yearly value of 100/*
These he exchanged for the vicarage of Christchurch in
the city ofOork, of the same value, but one of the moit
painful and laborious cures in Ireland. This lie served
for above twenty years, mostly without any assistant;
preached twice every Sunday, catechised, and discharged
all the other duties of bis function. Some ecclesiastical
jireferments, tenable with bis great cure, were given him
at different times by the bishops of Cork and Cloyne, which
at last increased bb income tO' near 400/. per annum. In
this situation an offer was made him. by government, in
1699, of the deanery of Derry ; but, although this was a
dignity, and double in value to all that be had, yet he de«
clined itfrom a motive of filial piety. He would not se«
.parate himself from an aged mother, who either could not,
i Cafe, T»|. l.«»F:«brio. BibL 0]»o«-*Dttpio.— Bruck«r«-«-SaxM OoQinasU
\
M S Y N G E.
or was unwilling, to be removed. Hemaining therefore 9t
Corky he was chosen proccor for the chapter^ in the con^
vocation called in 1 703. Soon after, the duke of Ormond,
then lord'lieutenaot of Ireland, gave him the crown's title
to the deanery of St. Patrick's, in Dublin. But the chap-
ter disputed this title, and claimed a right of election in
themselves ; and to assert this right, they chose Dr. Jobn
Sterne, then chancellor of the cathedral, their dean. The
title of the crown being thus thought defective, and, after
a full discussion of the point, found to be so,Dr. King, arch-
bishop of Dublin, proposed an accommodation, which took
place, and in consequence Dr. Sterne continued dean, and
the archbishop gave the chancellorship to Mr. Synge.
This brought Mr. Synge to Dublin, though withoiit any
addition of income, or relaxation from labour, for the
chancellor of St. Patrick's, as such, has the care of the
parish of St. Werburgh, one of the most populous in Dub-
lin. This great cure Mr. Synge served for eight years^
preaching almost constantly to a crowded audience. Du-
ring this period he took his degree of D. D. and a new con-
vocation being summoned in 1713, he was chosen proctor
for the chapter of St. Patrick's. On Dr. Sterne's pro^
mbtion to the see of Dromore, the archbishop of Dublin
appointed Dr. Synge his vicar-general, in which office he
continued until he was made bishop of Raphoe, in 1714.
His distinguished zeal for the revolution, and the Hanover
succession, which had effectually obstructed his prefer-
ment in the latter years of queen Anne's reign, now as
effectually promoted it, for, in 1716, he was made arch-
bishop of Tuam, over which see he presided about twenty-
five years. He died at Tuam, July 24, 1741, aged eighty-
two, and was buried in the church-yard of his own cathedral.
It is remarkable; of this prelate, that he was the son of
one bishop ; the nephew of another, namely, George Synge,
bishop of Cloyne ; and the father of two bishops, Edward^
bishop of Elphin, and Nicholas, bishop of Kiilaloe. This
learned divine, in the course of bis ministry, composed
and published several excellent treatises f6r the promotion
of piety and virtue ;'they are written in a sensible, easy,
and rational manner; and have been so well received by
the public, as to. go through many editions. His works
form altogether 4 vols. 12mo, but consist of small tracts,
which are all printed separately for Rivingtons and others.
It has been said of archbishop Synge, that his life was aa
S Y N G 1. »4 ,
exemplary as bU writings were instractive ; and that, ** What
lie wrote he believed ; and what he believed he practised." '
SYRUS PUBLIUS.— See PUBLIUS.
T.
Jl ABOUROT (STfiPHEN), a French author, generally
known by the name of the sieur des Accords, was born in
1549^ was proctor for the king in the bailiage of Dijon,
and has obtained a kind of fame by some very eccentric
liublications. That which is best known, and is said to be
least exceptionable, though certainly far from being a
jQQodel of purity, was first published by him at the age of
eighteen, but revised and much augmented when he was
about thirty 'five. It is entitled ^^ Les Bigarrures et Touches
du. Seigneur des Accords ;'' to which some editions add
'' avec les Apophtegmes du Sieur Gaulard et les escraignes
Dijonoqises ;'* and the Vest of all (namely, that of Paris,
in 1614), ^^denouveau augmentees de plusieurs Epitaphes,
Dialogues, et ingenieuses equivoques." It is in two vo-
lumes^ 12mo, and contains a vast collection of poems, co-
nundrums, verses oddly constructed, &c. &c. The author
died in 1590, at the age of forty >one. Having one day
sent a sonnet to mademoiselle B^g^r, he wrote at bottom,
*^ A tons *Accords,'* instead of his name ; the lady in her
answer called him the Seigneur des Accords, and the pre-
sident B^gar frequently giving him that title afterwards,
Tabourot adopted it. The Dictionnaire Historique places
his birth in 1547, and makes him forty-three years old at
his death ; but in his own book is a wooden cut of him in-
scribed, setat. .35, 1584, which fixes his age as we have
^iven it, if the true time of his death was 1 590.*
TACHARD (GoY), a Jesuit, and a missionary from
J^rance to the court. of Siam, who died in Bengal of a con-
t Harris's «dition of Warc^Biog, Brit« • Diet. Hist
«S < T A C H A ft D.
itegioos dUsofder in 1694| is recorded as the anUiof of twd
tvoyages to Siam, io 2 vols, at Paris, 1686 and 1689. tt
Uku^-boffeyeTf been since proved, that he was credulous
in the Extreme ; was much flattered and imposed upon^
and has given a most exaggerated account of the power
and wealth 6f the king of Siam ; other narratives are there-'
fore preferred to his. He went first with the two French
ambassadors, the chevalier de Chamont, and the abb£ de
Choisi. '
TACITUS (Caius Cornelius), one of the ^ most emi-
nent Roman historians, was born, most probably, in the
year of Rome 809 or S 10, or about 56 of the Christian
sera ; but the place of his nativity is no where mentioned.
H/e was the son of Cornelius Tacitus, a procurator ap»
pointed by the prince to manage the Imperial revenue, and
govern a province in Belgic Gaul. Where he was edu«
<eated is not known ; but it is evident that he did not imbibe
the smallest tincture of that frivolous science, and that vi«
cious eloquence which in his time debased the Roman ge-
siius. He most probably was formed upon the plan adopte4
in the time of the republic ; and, with the help of a sound
•cbeme of home-discipline, and the best domestic exam^
pie, be grew up, in a course of virtue, to that vigour of
•mind which gives such animation to his writings. His first
ambition was to distinguish himself at the bar. In the year
^ef Rome 828, the sixth of Vespasian, being then about
eighteen, be attended the eminent men of the day, in their
inquiry concerning the causes of corrupt eloquence, and is
supposed to have been the author of the elegant dialogue
concerning oratory, usually printed with bis works.
Agricola was joint consul with Domitian in the year of
Rome 830, for the latter part of the yean His name does
not appear in the Fasti Consulares, because that honour
was reserved for the consuls who entered on their office
on the kalends of January, and gave their name tQ tha
whole year. Tacitus, though not more than twenty, had
given such an earnest of his future fame, that Agricola
chose him for his son-in-law, and, thus distinguished, our'
author began the career of civil preferment. The circum-
stances of his progress, however, are not precisely mienr
«tioned, although Mr. Murphy has given us some ingenious
5K)nJ6€tures to supply this deficie.ucy. He was favoured
J Diet. Hift.
TACITUS. «r
by Vespasian atid by Titui^ and rose to prtfferaieat eveia
under the tyrant Domttian, It would be difficult, says bit
biographer, to account for the success ^ a man who iadl^
whole tenourof bis conduct preserved an ttobleiiMslie4cha*-
meter, if he himself had not furnished a "Solution of the
problem. Agricola, he liells us, had the address te restrain
the headlong violence of Domitian, by bis prudence, and
the virtues of moderation : never choosing to imitate the
zeal of those who, by their intemperance, provoked their
£sce, and rushed on sure destruction, without renderiny
any kind of service to their country. The conduct ^
Agricola plainly shewed that great men may exist in safety
under the worst and most barbarous tyranny. We may be
•ure, that he who commends the mild disposition of his
father-in-law, bad the prudence to observe the 'same line
of conduct. Instead of giving umbrage to the prince, and
provoking the tools of power, he was content to display bis
eloquence at the bar Domitian, however, certainly ad>-
vanced our author's fortune. It is no where mentioned
that Tacitus discharged the office of tribune and asdile, but
it may be presumed that he passed through these station^
to the higher dignity of prsetor, and member of the quin*
deoemviral college, which he enjoyed at the secular
l^aaies in the year of Rome 841, the seventh of Dooai^
tian.
In the course of the following year, our author and bis
wife left the city of Rome, and absented themselves more
than four years. Some writers, willing to exalt the vinue
of Tacitus, and aggravate the injustice of Domitian, aa*
sert, that Tacitus was sent into banishment* This, baw«-
ever, is mere conjecture, without a shadow of probability
to support it. Tacitus makes no complaint against DomU
tian : be mentions no personal injury : he received marks
of favour, and he acknowledges the obligation. It may,
therefore, with good reason be affirmed, that prudential
considerations induced our author to retire from a city,
where an insatiate tyrant began to throw off ail reserve, and
wage open war against all who were distinguished by their
talents and tlieir virtue.
Tacitus had been four years absent from Rome wben he
received the news of AgricoU's death, which happened ia
the year of Rome 846, and of the Christian sera M. A report
prevailed that be was poisoned by the emperor^s orders ;
his rapid course of brilliant suacess in Briuin faaviog
V0L.XXIX. H
}98 T AC I T U S.
-alarmed tbe jealousy of Domitian, who dreaded nothing^so
much tLs a great military character : but Tacitus acknow-
ledges., that this report rested on no kind of proof. After
^ this event, however, Tacitus returned to Rome, and from
•that tiitie saw the beginning of the most dreadful aera, in
which Domitian broke out with tinbridled fury, and made
the city of Rome a theatre of blood and horror. At length
this tyrant fell the victim of a conspiracy, and war succeeded
%y a virtuous emperor, Nerva, in whose reign, in the year
of Rome 850, Tacitus succeeded the celebrated Verginios
Rufus, as consul for the remainder of the year, and for
that reason, as before noticed, his name is not to be found
in the Fasti Consulares. In honour of Verginius, the se-
nate decreed, that the rites of sepulture should be per-
formed at the public expence. Tacitus delivered the fune-
ral oration from the rostrum, and the applause of such an
orator, Pliny says, was sufficient to crown the glory of a
well-spent life.
Nerva died Jan. 27, in the year of Rome 851, having,'
about three months before, adopted Trajan as his successor.
In that short interval the critics have agreed to place the
publication of the ** Life of Agricola," by Tacitus, but
Mr. Murphy assigns very good reasons for referring it to
the reign of Trajan. The "Treatise on the Manners of
the Germans,'' it is generally agreed, made its appearance
in the year of Rome 851. The " Dialogue concerning
Oratory" was an earlier production, and probably was
published in the reign of Titus or Domitian, who are both
celebrated in that piece, for their talents and their love of
polite literature.
The friendship that subsisted between Tacitus and the
younger Pliny, and which is well known, was founded on
the consonance of their studies and their virtues. When
Pliny says that a good and virtuous prince can never be
sincerely loved, unless we shew our detestation of the
tyrants that preceded him, we may be sure that Tacitus
vras of the same opinion. They were both convinced that
"K striking picture of former tyranny ought to be placed in
contrast to the felicity of the times that succeeded. Pliny
acted up to his own idea in the panegyric of Trajan, where
we firtd a vein of satire on Domitian running through the
whole piece. It appears in his letters, that he had some
thoughts of writing history on the same principle, but bad
pot resolution to- undertake that arduous task. Tacitus had
more vigour of mind: he tljought more intensely, and
TACITUS. 99
with deeper penetration, than his friend. We find that he
had formed, at an early period, the plan of his history,
and resolved to execute it, in order to shew the horrors of
slavery, and the debasement of the Roman people through
the whole of Domitian's reign. From the year of Rome
853,' when along with Pliny, he pleaded in the famous
cause of Priscus, the proconsul of Africa, and in behalf
of those who bad been oppressed by him, Tacitus appears
to have dedicated himself altogether to his history. At
what time it was published is uncertain, but it was in some
period of the reign of Trajan, who died in the year of Rome
St70, A. D. 117. In this work he began from the accession
of Galba, and ended with the death of Domitian, i. e. from
the year of Rome 822 to 849, a period of twenty-seven
years. Vossius says that the whole work consisted of no
less than thirty books ; but, to the great loss of the literary
world, we have' only four books, and the beginning of the
fifth. In what remains, we have little after the accession
of Vespasian. The reign of Titus is totally lost, and Do-
mitian has escaped the vengeance of the historian's pen.
The " Annals" followed, including a period of fifty-four
years, from the year 767 to the death of Nero in 821;
but of these have perished, part of the fifth book, contain-
ing three years of Tiberius, the entire four years of Cali-
gula, the first six of Claudius and the last two of Nero.
Thestyleof these "Annals," Mr. Murphy observes, differs
from that of the History, which required stately periods,
ponip of expression, and harmonious sentences. The '^An-
nals'' are written in a strain more subdued and temperate;
every phrase is a maxim ; the narrative goes on with ra-
pidity ; the author is sparing of words, and prodigal of sen-
timent; the characters are drawn with a profound know-
ledge of human nature, and when we see them figuring on
the stage of public business, we perceive the internal spring
of their actions ; we see their motives at work,' and of
course are prepared to judge of their conduct.
Tacitus intended, if his life and health continued, to
review the reign of Augustus, in order to detect the arts
by which the old constitution was overturned to make way
for the government of a single ruler. This, in the hands
of such a writer, would have been a curious portion' of
history ; but it is probable he did not live to carry his de-
sign into execution. The time of his death is not men-
tioned by any skncient author. It seems, however, highly
H2
J < w ->
100 TACITUS. ,
probable that he died in the reign of Trajan, and we maj
reasonably conclude that he survived his friend Pliny.
The commentators assume it as a certain fact, that he must
have left issue, because they find that M. Claudius Tacitus,
who was created^ emperor in A. D. 275, deduced his pedi-
gree from, our historian ; and Vopiscus tells us that he
ordered the image of Tacitus, and a complete collection of
his works, to be placed in the public archives, with a spe-
cial direction that twelve copies should be made every year,
at the public expence. But when the mutilated state, in
which our author has come down to posterity is considered^
there is reason to believe that the orders of this prince,
who reigned only six months, were never executed.
Without entering on the merits of Tacitus as a historian,
which have been the subject of very extensive discussion,
we may refer to Mr. Murphy's comprehensive view of his
life and genius. It is universally acknowledged that his
works are among the most precious remains of antiquity,
and it is not much less universally acknowledged that he
exhibits the defects as well as excellencies ef the historian.
The first edition of bis works was published at Venice by
John de Spira in 1468, containing the last six books of the
" Annals," four books of the " History," with part of the
fifth, the treatise on the ^' Manners of the Germans,'' and
the " Dialogue concerning Oratory," which we see has
always been printed with Tacitus's works, although many
critics have doubted whether it was hist Another edition
was published in a year or two after by Franciacus Puteo*
lanus^ more correct and elegant than the former, with the
addition of the life of Agricola. The first six books ot the
^^ Annals" had not then been found, but diligent search
being made in all parts of Eur<!>pe, they were at length dis»
covered in the monastery of Corby in Westphalia. Leo X.
' purchased this treasure, and, under his patronage, BeroaU
dus, in 15 i 5, gave the world a complete edition of the
whole, the manuscript having beeo deposited in the Flo-
rentine library. The principal subsequent editions were
' tlmse of Froben, 1519, 1533, and 1544, fol.; several by
Lipsius, 1574 — 1619 ; by Freinsheim, 163B and 1664, Svo;
' Elzivir, 1634, 1640, 2 vols. 12mo; the Variorum, 1672 awd
• 1685, 2 vols. Svo; by Rickius, . 1687, 2 vols. 12mo; by
Gronovius, 1721, 2 vols. 4to; by Mrs. Grierson of l>ubUii,
1730, 3 vols. Svo; by Ernest, 1752, 1772, 2 vols. Svo; by
Lallemajid, 1760, 3vols..l2mo; by Broti^, 1771, 4 vols.
4to; byCrellius, 1779 — 92, 4 vols. Svo; by Homer, 1790,
TACITUS. 101
I
4 vols. Svo; at Edinburgh, 1796, 4 vols, 4to and dvo;
and by Oberlin, 1801, 2 vols. «vo. Brotier's, undoubtedly
the best edition, is the model of all that followed. There
have been translations of Tacitus in most European Ian*
guages. His whole works have been published in English,
with large political discourses annexed, by Mr. Gordon.
The style of Gordon is, however, so vicious and affected,
that it is impossible to read him with patience ; and Ta-
citus has lately found a much more elegant and judicious .
translator in Mr. Murphy, whose work in 4 vols. 4to, was-
published in 1793, and has met with very general appro-
bation. There have been in all, four English translatiols
of Tacitus ; that of Greenway and sir Henry Saville in the
reign of Elizabeth ; that performed by Dry den and others;
the translation by Gordon ; and that of Murphy.*
TACQUET (Andrew), a Jesuit of Antwerp, known for
his skill in the mathematical sciences, published, among o^her
things, a good treatise on astronomy ; an edition of Eu-
'Clid's Elements, with the application of the problems and
theorems to practical use. In matters of astronomy, the
prejudices of the times seem to have prevented him from
more effectually defending the system of Copernicus. He
died in 1660. His works were published collectively, at
Antwerp, in 1669 and 1707, in one volume, folio.*
TAFFI (Akdrea), an ingenious artist, born at Florence
in 1213, was the person who introduced into Italy the art
of designing in Mosaic, having learned i^ from spme Greek
artists, who were employed in the church of S. Mark at
Venice. The chief of these artists was a man whose name
was ApoUonius. With him Taffi became associated, and
they worked together at Florence, with great success. The
most famous work of Taffi was a dead Christ, in a ch^p^l
at Fk>rence ; it was seven cubits long, and executed with
abundance of care. He died in 1294, at the age of eighty
one.*
TALBOT (John), a name mentioned with distinguished
honour in the English annals, was second son to Richard
lord Talbot, and was born at Blechmore in Shropshire, in
the reign of king Richard II. Hrs first summons to parlia-
ment was in the eleventh year of the reign of king Henry
IV. He married Maud, the eldest of the two daughters
1 Lift prafijifd to Mnrphy'i traBiladoo.
' Mpreri.— Diet. Hist. — Hutton's Diet, i^ew edit.— 'Phiipt. Transact* vol. lU.
* Bullaffl'a Academte des Sei«n«es.— Diet. Hiat.
102 Talbot.,
4
/
and coheiresses of sir Thomas Nevil, by Joan, sole daugh- .
ter and heiress to William lord Furnival. In the first,
year of Henry V. he was committed to the Tower, but for
what reason we are not informed. He was, however, soon
released, and constituted, in Feb. following, lord lieutenant
of Ireland, and had letters of protection sent him thither
by the name of sir John Talbot, knight, lord Furnival.
While in this office, he took Donald Mac Murghe, an Irish
rebel of considerable note and powers, and afterwards
brought him prisoner to the Tower of London.
Although we capnot fix the exact time of his going to
France, it appears that he attended Henry V. at the siege
of Caen in 1417 ; and the following year, in conjunction
with Richard Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, lord Talbot
took the strong castle of Dumfront : and was afterwards
present at the siege of Rouen, on all which occasions be
was esteemed one of the bravest of those officers who had
contributed to the conquest of France. About 1422 we
find him again in England, employed in suppressing some
riots, in the counties of Salop, Hereford, &c. : but he re-
turned again to t\^e continent before the year 1427, at which
time he regained possession of the city of Mans, which had
been a considerable time in the hands of the English, but
bad in part been retaken by the French, who were now at-
tacked with such impetuosity, that all their troops were
either kiUed or taken prisoners. The unexpected recovery
of this important place, the capital of the province of Maine,
as it was entirely x)wing to lord Talbot, contributed not a
little to encrease his military fame. He then made himself
master of the town of Laval, and having joined the earl of
Warwick in the siege of Pontorson, carried that place too,
which had before been the grand obstacle ,in preventing
the regent, the duke of Bedford, from carrying the war be-
yond the Loire. On its surrender, the earl of Warwick
appointed lord Talbot and lord Ross governors of it.
In 1428, the earl of Warwick having returned to. Eng-
land, on being appointed governor to the young king
Henry, Thomas Montacute, earl of Salisbury, arrived in
France, and, accompanied by lord Talbot, sir John Fastolf
(See Fastolf) and others, undertook fche memorable siege
of Orleans, in the course of which lord Talbot exhibited
such striking proofs of uncommon valour, that his very
name would strike terror into the French troops. The
siege was long cj^rried on with great valour on the part of
T A L B p T. l(Ml
the. Frj^Qch^ and th.e English, had much.rffispn to thiolc
that eyea if it concluded in their favour^ the victory would
be dearly purchased. They continued however, to be ap-
parently advancing towards the accomplishment of this im-
portant object, when the relative positions of the besiegers
and the .besieged began to assume a new appearance, ia
consequence of one of the. most singular occurrences that
is to be met with in history, namely the intervention of the
celebrated maid of Orleans^ Joan of Arc, who^e actions
have been already detailed. (See J[oan.) It .may suffice
here to add, that when this heroine, whose valour was at- .
tributed to supernatural agency, had spread dejection
throughout the English army, the earl of Suffolk raised the
siege, and retreated with all imaginable precaution. He
afterwards retired with a detachment of his. army to Jer-*
geau, where he .was besieged by the French, attended by;
Joan of Arc, and, the place being taken,..his lordship waa
m^de prisoner.
After the siege of Orleans was raised, lord Talbot re-t
tired to Meun, which he. fortified, and then seized another
town in the neighbourhood, and threw a reinforcement into
Bangenci, and on the disaster of Suffolk, he succeeded to
tb^ command of the remainder of the British troops. He
was now however doomed to sustain a fatal reverse in the
bajttie of Patay, which the French, encouraged by their en-'
thusiasm, began in so sudden a manner that the English
had no time to form themselves, and were still so possessed
with the opinion that their enemies were assisted by a su^
pernatural .power, that all the efforts of lord Talbot were
insufficient to make them sustain the attack of the enemy.
He did all that became a brave man and an able general,,
and his enemies were astonished at his valour,' for in con*
junction with the lords Scales and Hungerford, and sir
Thomas Rempstone, he sustained almost the whole fury of.
the French attack; but the general rout of his army was at
last conppleted by the French with great slaughter, and lord/
Talbot, who was wounded in the neck, was taken prisoner,
together with some other officers of distinction.
Lord Talbot had sustained a tedious captivity of three
years and a half in the hands of the French, when the duke
of Bedford found means to have him ex^changed, Feb. 12,
HS3, for Xaintrailles, a French officer of great reputation y
and after p&y^ng a short visit to England, his lordship, re-
suj(Q.ed^ bisi cojniiiafid in France, and Joan of Arc^s magic .
ia4 TALBOT.
hftving no longer any influence^ »he having, aeoordliig lo
the common accountSi been p»l to death as an iroposter^
or a witch. Lord Talbot, whose name was stilt an object of
terror, extended bis conquests, and took several fortifiedl
places, with bis accustomed skill and bravery. lo some
instances he is accused of having treated the garrisona
with improper severity, and perhaps the long duration of
his captivity might bave contributed to increase his ani-
mosity against the enemy. Among the places he took
were the castle of Joigny, Beaumont upon the Oise, Cret),
Pont de Maxeme, Neufville, Rouge Maison, Crespi in Va-*
lois, Clermont, St. Dennis, and Gisors. One of his exploits
was performed in a singular manner. In the beginning of
1437, the weather was so extremely cold, that the generak
on both sides could not undertake any regular operation in
tike field, yet even this lord Talbot contrived to turn to ad-
vantage. He collected a body of troops, and putting white
cloths, or shirts, over their other clothes, marched with
them all night, and brought them to the very walls of Pon-
toise, unperceived by the garrison, who did not distinguisli
them from the snow with which the ground was covered.
They then mounted the walls by means of scaling-ladders,
and seizing the chief gates, lord Talbot made himself mas*
ter of this important place, which exposed the Parisians to
the continual incursions of the English garrison up to the
^^ry g&^B of Paris.
His next conquests were Harfleur, Tankerville, Crotoy,
where he defeated the troops of the duke of Burgundy,,
who had deserted the English interest, Langueville in N^-
mandy, Carles, and Manille, and performed feats of great
bravery, when the French attempted to recover Pontoive.
In truth, all the reputation which the English arms in
France stilt retained appears to have been almost whoity^.
owing to the abilities, courage, and activity of lord Tattot :
and in consideration of so great merit, be was advanced to
the dignity of earl of Shrewsbury, his patent of creation
bearing date May 20, 1442. In the following year, he
was constituted one of the ambassadors to treat of peace
with Charles VII. king of France ; and the yea/ after, the
king acknowledging himself indebted to him in the sum of
10,426/. 4tS, and a farthing, in consideration of his {great s^r->
vices, as well to king Henry V. (his father) as to himself,
.. both in France and Normandy, granted^ that after the sam
ef twenty- one thousand pounds, in which he stood indebted
T A L B O T* 101
«ntp Henry the cardinal bisbop of Winchefltery were paid,*
he should receive, y^^rly, four hundred marks out of the
eurtoma and dotiet issuing from the port of Kingston
upon HuIL He was, the same year, again retaiiied to serre
the king in his wars of France, vitii one baron, two knights,
fooraeore and sixteen men at arms, and three hundrea
archers, the king having given him ten thousand pounds in
band.
IiK]444 he was again constituted lieutenant of Ireland,
where he landed in 1446, and soon after held a parliament
at Trim, in which several good laws were enacted for the
security of the English. On July 17, the same year, hav-
ing then the titles of earl of Shrewsbury, lord Talbot, Fur*
nival, and Strange, ** in consideration of his great servicei
and blood spilt in the wars ; as also considering the devas-
tation and spoil done iif the county and city of AVaterford,
and barony of Dungarvan, in the realm of Ireland, by se-
veral hostilities of the rebels; to the end that the said
realm of Ireland might thenceforth be better defended and
preserved, he was advanced to the title and dignity of
earl of Wexford and Waiterford ; having the said city and
county of Waterford, with the castles, honour, lands, and
barony of Dungarvan, granted to him, with jura regalia^
wreck, &c. from Yooghal to Waterford, to ho)d to himself,
and the heirs male of bis body ; and that he and they should
thenceforth be stewards of that realm, to do and execute
all things to that office appertaining, as fully ^s the steward
- of England did perform." Which patent was granted by
writ of privy. seal and authority of parliament. He returned
to England the next year, leaving his brother Richard TaU
'bot, archbishop of Dublin, his deputy.
In 1450, being again in the wars of France, where the
good success of the English then more and more decline,
he was at the surrender of Falaize, and quitted that place
on honourable terms. In 1451 he was made general of the
English fleet, then going out, having four thousand soldiers
with him in that expedition; and the year following, 1452,
lieutenant of the duchy of Aquitaine, having under him
. these captains of his men at arms and archers, viz. John
' VisGoant Lisle (his eldest son by his second wife), sir Ro-
bert Hungerford, lord Molins, sir Roger Camoys, sir John
Lisle, and the bastard of Somerset : and in consideration
of his great charge in that high employment, had a grant
of the third«^ and third of the thirds, which were reserved
i06 T A L B O T.
to the. king upon bis retainer therein. He then marched
thither ; took Bourdeaux, and put a garrison into it, which
success caused several remote cities to submit to his autho*
rity. Hearing that the French bad besieged Chastilion,
he advanced thither, and gave them battle, on July 20;,
but the event of that day (though for a while it stood doubt-^
ful) at length proved fatal to the English; this renowned
general being killed by a cannon ball, and his whole
army routed.
He died on Ju)y 20, .1453, aged eighty, as the inquisi*
tion after his death shews ; but the inscription, on a noble
monument, erected to his memory at Whitchurch, in.
Shropshire, (to which his body was removed from Roan)
makes his death on the 7th of that month.
He was first buried at Roan in France, together with his.
eldest son, and the inscription for him is thus translated :
^'Here lyeth the right noble knt. John Talbot, ^irl of-
Shrewsbury, earl of Wexford, Waterford, and Valence,
lord Talbot of Goderich and Orchenfield, lord Strange of
Blackmere, lord Verdon of Alton, lord. Cromwell of Wing-
field, lord Lovetofte of Worsop, lord Furnival of Sheffield,
. lord Faulconbridge, knight of the noble orders of the garter,
St. Michael, and the golden fleece, great marshal to Henry
VI. of his realm of France,, who died in the battle of Bour-
deaux, 1453/'
It has been observed of this gallant soldier that he bad>
been victorious in forty several battles and dangerous skir->^
mishes. He was usually called the Achilles of England.
Camden, .in his ^^ Remains,*' says that his sword was <^not
long since found in the river of Dordon, and sold by a pea.
sant to an armourer of Bourdeaux, with this inscription;
but pardon (he adds) the Latin, for it was not his, but his
camping chaplain's :
" Sum Talboti m. mi. c. xliii.
Pko vincere inimico meo/**
TALBOT (Chables), lord high chancellor of Great
Britain, descended from the noble family of Talbot, was
the son of William*, bishop of Durham, and was born «in
1 Coll.iiis'i Peerage.*- MoD8trelet*s Cbreiv — ^Kapin's Hist.— British Biogra-
pby, &c.
* William Talbot, bisbop of Dor- second earl of Shrewsbury, and was
bam, was descended from sir Gilbert grandson of Sherrington Talbot of SaU
Ta!bot of Grafton, knight banneret, warp in Worcestershire, esq. and son
and Itnight of the most noble order of William Talbot of Stourton castle
of the garter, third son of John the in Staffordshire, hyt Mary daughter *
T A L B O T. 107
168.4. Id. 1701 he was admitted a gentleman commoner
of^ Oriel .college, . Oxford, where he proceeded A.B. in
1704) at three years standing, a privilege allowed him as
the son of a bishop. In November of the same year, he
was elected a fellow of All Souls, but voided this by mar-
rying, in a few years, Cecily, daughter and heir of Charles
Matthews, of Castle Munich, in the county of Glamorgan,
leisq. and great grand-daughter, by. the mother's side, of
the famous judge Jenkins.
From his first admission into the university, he had fixed
upon the law as a profession, and leaving Oxford before he
proceeded farther in arts, was admitted a member of the
society of Lincoln's-inn, . and was. called to the bar a con-^
siderable time before his course of reading was expired.
He set. out with great success, and in 1719 was chosen
member of parliament for Tregony in Cornwall. In April
17.26 he. was made solicitor-general, and likewise was
chosen member for the city of Durham, probably assisted
by his father's interest, who was then bishop of that see.
In Nov. 1733, George IJ. delivered to him the great seal,
and he was then sworn of his majesty's privy council, and
likewise constituted lord high chancellor, and created a
baron of Great Britain. by the title of lord Talbot, baron of
Hensol, in the county of Glamorgan. On these promotions,
he resigned the chancellorship of the diocese of Oxford^
which had been given him by his father, when bishop of
of Thomas Doughty of Whittiogton Durham^ of which county he was made
id Worcestershire, esq. He was born lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum.
at StourtOQ castle in 1659, and in the He died October the 10th. 1730. H*;
beginning of 1674 entered a gentle* marrfed Catharine, daughter of
man commoner of Oriel college in King, esq. one of the aldermen of Lon-
Ozford. On October the 16th, 1677, don. He had eight sons, and several
he took the degree of bachelor of arls, daughters ; of whom those who lived
and June the ^3d, 1680, that of mas- to maturity were, 1. Charles, the.
ier. He afterwards entered into holy lord Chancellor. ^. Edward, archdea-
orders, and in the reign of king James con of Berks, who died in 1790. 3^
II. preached and acted with great zeal Sherrington, a captain of foot. 4.
againsi popery. lu April 1691 he was Henry, one of the commissioners of
nominated to the deanery of Worces- the salt office. 5. Henrietta Maria,
ter, in the room of Dr. George Hickes, married to Or. Charles Trimnel, late
ejected for refusing the oaths to king bishop of Winchester. 6. Catharine,
William and queen Mary; and in married to Exton Sayer, LL.D. chan-
1699 was advanced to the bishopric of > cellor of Durham, and surveyor of his
Oxford, to which he was consecrated majesty's land revenues. There are
September the 24th, having leave to in print two' speeches of his in the
hold bis deanery in commendam. In • House of Lords, one in favour of the
1715 he was translated to the bishop- union between England and .Scotland,
ric of Sarum, in which he was confirmed and the other upon the trial of Dr.
April the 83d. In September ,1722 Sacheverell. He published likewise a
htf.wai translated^ t» the bishopric of .Tolume of sermons in 8vo.
lOS TALBOT;
ihatsM; and an August 1735, the honorary degree of doc«-
tor of lavfB was conferred upon him by that university. He
diedy in the height of his fame and usefulness, of an ill-
ness of only five days, Feb. 14, 1737, at his house in Lin«
coln*a4nn«>fields, in the fifty«third year of his age. He
was interred at Harrington in Gloucestershire, where his
estate was, in the chancel of the church.
It has been said of lord chancellor Talbot, that eloquence
never afforded greater charms from any orator, than when
the public attention listened to his sentiments, delivered
with the most graceful modesty ; nor did wisdom and
knowledge ever support it with more extensive power, nor
integrity enforce it with greater weight. In apprehension
he to hr exceeded the common rank of men, that he in-
stantaneously, or by a kind of intuition, saw the, strength
or imperfection of any argument ; and so penetrating was
his sagacity, that the most intricate and perplexing maxes
of the law could never so involve and darken the truth, m
to con<ieal it from his discernment. As a member of each
.house of parliament, no man ever had a higher deference
paid to his abilities, or more confidence placed in his in-
flexible public spirit; and so excellent was his temper, so
candid his disposition in debate, that he never offended
those whose arguments he opposed. When his merit,
and the unanimous suffrage of his country, induced hi9
prince to intrust him with the great seal, bis universal affa-
bility, his easiness of access, his humanity to the distress,
which his employment too frequently presented to his view,
and his great dispatch of business, engaged to him the
affection and almost veneration of all who approached him.
And by constantly delivering with his decrees the reasons
upon which they were founded, his court was a very in-
structive school of equity, and bis decisions were generally
attended with such conviction to the parties, against whose
interest they were made, that their acquiescence in them
commonly prevented any farther expence. As no servile
expedient raised him to power, his country knew h^ would
use none to support hinoself in it. . He was constant and
regular in his devotions both in bis family and in public.
His piety was exalted, rational, anc^ unaffected. He was
firm in maintaining the true interest and legal rights of the
church ^of England, but an enemy to persecution. When
be could obtain a short interval from business, the pompous
formalities of his station were thrown aside y bis table w»s
TALBOT. 10^
a scene where witdom and science dhonei enlivened nod
adorned with elegance of wit. There was joined the ut«>
most freedom of dispute with the highest good breedings
and the vivacity of mirth with primitive simplicity of man*
ners. When he had leisure for exercise, be delighted ia
fieid'Sports ; and even in those trifles shewed, that he was
formed to excel in whatever he engaged ; and had he in-
dtilged himself more in them, especially at a time when be
found his health unequal to the excessive fatigues of his
post, the nation might not yet have deplored a loss it could
ill sustain. But though he was removed at a season of life
when others but begin to shine, be might justly be said,
^^ satis & ad vitam & ad gloriam vi&isse ;^' and his death
united in one general concern a nation, which scarce ever
unanimously agreed in any other particular ; and notwith-
standing the warmth of our political divisions, each party
endeavoured to outvie the other in a due reverence to bis
momory.'
' TALBOT (Catherine), a very ingenious lady, the only
child of Edward Talbot, second son of William, bishop of
Durham, and nephew to the chancellor, was born in May
1720. She was born five months after the decease of her
' father, who died at the e^rly age of twenty-nine, and being
a younger brother, lefi his widow in a situation very in«
adequate to his rank in life. She was the daughter of the
vev. George Martyn, prebendary of Lincoln^ aod had been
*1barried to Mr. Talbot only a few months. Happily, how-
ever, for her, the kind attentions of a dear and intimate ^
friend were not wanting at that critical period. CathariaCt
siMer to Mr. Benson, afterwards bishop of Gloucester, who
bad been the companion of her early youth, and whose
brother was upon an equally intimate footing with Mr. Tal-
bot, was residing with her at the time of his death, and was
her great support in that heavy afBiction ; and they conti-
nued to live together and bestow all their joint attention
upon the infant Catherine. But before she was ive years
of age, this establishment was broken up by the marriage
of Miss Benson to Mr. Seeker, afterwards archbishop of
Canterbury (See Secker), but then rector of the valuable
living of Houghton-le- Spring in Durham. Mr. Secker,
mindful of his obligations to Mr. Edward Talbot, as men-
tioned in our account of him, immediately joined with his
I Oca. Oict«-BMf . Brtr.
no "f A L B O T.
wife in the request that Mrs. and Miss Talbot would from
that time become a part of bis faintly. The offer was ac-
oepted) and they never afterwards separated; and upon
Mrs. Secker^s death, in 1748, they still continued with him,
and took the management of his domestic concerns.
Besides her mother's instructions, which were chiefly
confined to religious principles. Miss Talbot enjoyed the '
benefit of a constant intercourse with the eminent divine
with whom they lived ; and his enlightened mind soon dis-
covered the extent of her early genius, and was delighted
to assist in its improvement. Hence, although she never
studied the learned languages, unless perhaps a little Latin,
she reaped all the advantages of Mr. Seeker's deep and
extensive learning, of his accurate knowledge of the Scrip-
tures, and of his critical and unwearied research into the
sciences and languages more immediately connected with
that important study. Yet though so much attention was
bestowed on serious pursuits^^ the lighter and more orna-
mental parts of female education wer6 not neglected ; and
for the acquirena'ent of these there was abundant oppor-
tunity in the different situations in which Mr. Seeker's ra-
pid progress in the church placed him. From the time that
she was seven years old, she lived, almost constantly, in
or near large cities ; and was consequently enabled to ac-
quire every useful branch of education, and all elegant ac-
complishments'. She made some progress in music, but
much more in drawing and painting in water-colours. Nor
were the sciences and modern languages neglected ; she
had a competent knowledge of French and Italian, and late
in life she taught herself German. She studied also geo-
graphy and astronomy with much care and attention, and
her master in the latter of these sciences, a Mr. Wright, was
the m6ans of her becoming acquainted with the celebrated
Mrs: Carter, with whoni she formed a strict friendship, the
amiable turn of which may be seen in their correspondence
lately published. Miss Talbot formed also other friendly
connections with persons of m^rit and rank, vvho highly
esteemed her.
At what age^he began to compose does not appear ; but
certainly it was early in life, for her poem on reading
Hammond's elegies was written when she was not more
than twenty- two years of age; and though not one of the
best of them, it shows that she was familiar with composi-*
tion, and that her powers of mind had been accustomed to
TALBOT. Ill
^exertion. Tfafere are no dates, however, to her different
productions, and therefore we cannot trace her progress in
composition or sentiment, nor could she be prevailed upon
by her friends either to arrange her papers, or to piiblish
them herself. This is much to be regretted, for the world
has been sufficiently inclined to do justice to Miss Talbot's
talents; and few books of moral and religious instruction
have had a greater sale, and gone through more editions
than the little posthumous volume of her miscellaneous
•works. Of the " Reflections on the Days of the Week,"
published separately, upwards of 25,O0Q copies have been
sold ; and of the collection of her works, that now before
us (1812, 8vo) is the seventh edition. This is a circum-
stance not less creditable %o the age, than it is to the author ;
and it also proves the correctness of her friend's judgment
into whose hands they were put by Mrs. Talbot. Mrs. Car*
ter published them upon h^r own account and at her own
hazard, and the event shewed that she bad formed a just
isstimate both of their merit and the reception they would
meet with.
But Miss Talbot ought not to be considered by posterity
merely as an author. Great as her talents, and brilliant as
her accomplishments were, she possessed qualities of in-
finitely more importance, both to herself and society. Her
piety was regular, constant, and fervent. It was the spring
of all her actions, as its reward was the object of all her
hopes. ' iHer charity, including the whole meaning of the
word, in its apostolic sense, was extended to all her ac-
quaintance, rich as well as poor ; and to the latter she
gave, not only such * relief as her circumstances would al-
low (for she was never rich) but what was infinitely more
valuable to her, no small portion of her time. There is
reason to believe that she was often Dr. Seeker's almoner,
for there can be no doubt that he, who when he became
arqhbishop of Canterbury, constantly bestowed in charity
' upwards of 2,000/. a year, had been equally bountiful be-
fore in proportion to his income.
On the death of this affectionate friend in 1768, who
bequeathed Mrs. Talbot and hier daughter about 400/. a
year, they removed from Lambeth-palace to a hou^e in
Grosvenor-street, but in the following year the declining
state of Miss Talbot^s health obliged them to leave London
for a cooler and better air. Their kind and constant friend,
the late marchioness Grey, lent them for this purpose her
lit T A L B 0 T.
hou^e at Ricbmood, togeiber with everj thing she could
think of to contributiB to their comfort or amusement^ aad
from this delightful retreat Miss Talbot only returoed io
time to breathe her last in her mother's house in town^
Jan. 9, 1770, in the forty-ninth year of her age. H^
.chief disorder, added to a very weak, and now completely
worn-out constitution, was a cancer, which had beqo £^
three years preying upon her enfeebled frame*
These particulars we have extracted from an elegant
memoir of her life prefixed to the last edition of ^pr ^orka
by ^he rev« Montague Pennington, but must refer lo^il;.fpr
much interesting information respecting Misfi Talbot^^
amiable character and disposition* Her works consist of
** Reflections on the Seven Days of the week;'* ^' Essayf
on various subjects;** '^ Letters to a friend on a Futufie
Stat^ •'* " Dialogues ;'? " Prose Pastorals ;", " Imitationa
of Ossian ;" /^^Aflegoriea ^ and " Poetry*'' ' .
TALBOT (Pfi^ER), a Roman catholic writer, of coc^si*
derabje <;elebrity in ^is day, was the son pf sir WilU^ift
Talbot, and was born in 1620, of an ancient family in tjm
county of Dublin. He wa« brother to colonel Richard
Talbot, commonly called, 8||bout the court of Englaii^dp
^< Lying Dick Talbot,'* whom James IL creaied diike ^
Tyrconnell, and advaiuced t^ tb^ tieotenaiicj of IreJan^.
Peter was received into the society of ibe Jesuits in Port^
gal in 1635, and after studying philosophy and divinity^
Went into holy orders at Rome, whence he returned tp
Portugal, and afterwards to Antwerp, where be read lec^*
tures on moral theology. He was supposed to. be thf.prer-
son who, in 1656, reconciled Charles IL then at CciQgjf^
to the popish religion, and Charles is reported to hav^
sent hioi secretly to Madrid tfO^ intifnate to the c)0ttrt4lf
Spain bis conversion. He wa§ also sent by bis auperiora lo
JlnglaiDd to promote the interests of the Romisfa churcli|
which he appears to ha'ge attempted iu ayery singular waj^
^y paying bis court to Cromwell^ at whose funeral be -a^
tended as one of the mourners, and even joined Lambeit
io. opposing general Monk's declaration for the king. He
Aed^b^refore at the restoration, but was enabled to retttrh
Uie year following, when the king married the infanta of
pQi:ltttgal, and be became one of the priests who officiated
io ber family. His intriguing disposition, however, created
> Life AS above.— -Mrs. Carter's Life and Corresp«ndeii«e..
tome confusipn at court, and be was ordef^d to d(*part the
kingdom. The Jesuits, too, among whom he bad bete
educated, thought him too busy anj^ factious to be re-
tained in their society, and it . is supposed that by theic
interest pope Clement IX. was prevailed upon to dispense
with his vows, and to advance him to tb^ titular. archbishop-^
ric of Dublin, in 1669. On his return to Ireland he(
recommenced his services in behalf of the church of ^Rome,
by excommunicating those regulars and seculars of his
^wn persuasion who had signed a testimony of their loyalty
to the king* His ambition and turbulence led him also to
<|Qarrel with Plunket, the titular primate, a quiet man^
Sver whom be claimed authority, pretending that the king
ad appointed him overseer of all the clergy of Ireland ;
huiT when this authority was demanded, he never could pro*
dace it. In 1670, when lord Berkeley landed as lord lieu-
tenant, Talbot waited upon him, and being courteously
received, had afterwards the presamption t^ ippeaic befoi^,
the council in his archiepiscopal x:b.aracter, a thing without
S precedent sinee the reformation. He was, however, dis<*
toissed without punTshment \ but when the popish plot was
^covered in England in 1678, he was imprisoned in the
castle of Dublin, pn^ suspicion of being concerned in it^
wd^'^died there in 1680: He was a man of talents and
learning, bi& ^iaiiru^ mibitioQs, and turbulent. Sotwell,
Harris, and Dod J mive enumerated several of his publica*
iions, which, says. Dodd, are plausible, and. generally in
defence of the Jesuits, but some of them are virulent
against the English church. ^
Talbot (Robert), one of our earliest antiquaries, was
born at Thorp, in Northamptonshire, and was educated at
Winchester school, whence he was admitted of New college,
Oxford, in 1525. He left the university in 1530, but
took the degree of D. D. either there or in some other
place. In 1541 he was made a prebendary of Wells, and
April, 9, 1547, treasurer of the cathedral church of Nor-
wich, which he possessed at the time of his death, Aug.
27, 1558. He was a very diligent searcher into the anti-
quities of his country, and bis collections proved of great
service to Le}and, Bale, Caius, Camden, and others.' He
aho furnished archbishop Parker with many Saxon bocjc^f
some of which he had from Dr. Owen, physician to Henry
1 Harris'i edition of Ware.^X)oda'» Cb. Hist.
VOL.XXIX. i ^
U4 TALBOT,
VIII. Ue left bis MSS. to New college. He was the fint
of our countrymen who illustrated Antoninus's Itinerary
with various readihgrg and notes, which were of great use
to Camden, and are printed by Heame at the end of the
third volunde of Leland's Itinerary from a MS. in the Bod-^
leian library, which belonged to John Stowe> and is in his
handwriting; but Talbot's notes reach only to the sixth
ken Two other copies are in Bene^t college library ; a
fd'urih is in Caius college library, with additions by Dr..
Caius ; and a fifth in the Cotton library. Camden followed
bis settlement of the stations in most instances, but Wil^-
}iam Burton frequently differs from him in his ** Commen*
tary otfi* Antoninus his Ittnerary/* His other MSS. are ^ Au-
inm ex Stercore ; vei de iEnigntaticis et Prophettcis,'' in^
, C!orpus college, Oxford ; and *^ De cbartis qutbusdam Re-
gum Britannorum,*' in Bene't college, Cambridge.^
TALIACOTIUS, of TAGLIACOZZO (Gaspab), pro-
fessor of medicine and anatomy in the university of Bo^
logna, was bom in that city in i 546, and died there Nor*.
7, 1599, in the fifty- third year of his age. There is little
recorded of his life ;- his fame depends on his having prac*^
lised the art of restoring lost parts of the body by tnsition^
particnlarly the 'nose, which has been a topic of ridicule
ever since it was mentioned by Butler in his Hudibras,
<< So learned Taliacotius from, key Addison has also a
humorous paper on the same subject in the Tatler (No.
260), and Dr. Orey some remarks in his notes on Hudi-^
l^ras. TaIiacotius> however,, was not the inventor of tfaii^
art, for he allows that Alexander Benedictus and Vesaliutr
had given* some account of the same art before him, tod
Ambrose Par6 mentions a surgeon who practised it much
and successfully. Charles Bernard^ seijeant-surgeon to
^een Anne, asserts, that though those ivbo have not ex--
amined the history may be sceptics, there are incontestable
-proofs that this ari; was actually practised with dexterity
and success. Other writers have doubted whether Talia-
cotius did more than write on the theory, but there seem»
no foundation for depriving him of the honours of success
in practice also. Our readers may, indeed, satisfy themi-'
Selves as to the practicability of the art, as far as the nose
is concerned, by perusing a very recent treatise, "An
account of two successful operations for restoring a lost
t
■ 4
^ Ath. Ox. ToL I,— Leland in Encom.— -Bale.— Cough's To^iography. .
T A 1, r A C O T I U S. Ill
Nose, fram the ixiteguoieifts of the forehead, inthecaass
of two officers of bis majesty's army," by J. C. Carpue^
aiirgeon, 1815, 4ta The lips and eai% were the otber
parts which Taliacotins professed to restore } and bis writ-
ings on the subject are, 1. ^^ Epistola ad Hieronymum Mer^
culiarem de naribus, multo ante abscissis, reficiendis,*^
Francf. 1587, 8vo. 2. ^^ De Gurtornm Chirurgia per insi«
tionem libri duo," Venice, 1697, fol. and reprinted at
Francfort, 1 598, 8vo, under the title ^* Chirurgia nova de
narium, aurtum, labiorumque defecto, per insitioneln gu<>
tis ex bumero, arte hactenus omnibus ignpta, sarciendo.^
The magistrates of Bologna bad such a high opinion of
Taliacotius's success, that they erected a statue of him,
holding a nose in bis hand. '
TALLARI) (CAitfiLLE p^HosTUN, count of), an admired
general, and mareschal of France, was born Feb. 14, 1653,
the son of Roger d^Hostun, marquis of la Beaume. ' Like
other young nobles of France, be chose the army for fai^
profession, and at the age of sixteen had the royal regiment
of Cravates, in which command he signalized himself for
ten years. In 1672 be attended Louis XIV. into jHolland,
obtained soon after the confidence of Tur<^ne, and dis<«
tioguisbed himself on several occasions. He was rsnsed ib
the rank of lieutenant-general in 1693, and in 1697 was
employed in an embassy to England. On the renewal of
war, he commanded on the Rhine in 1702, and soon after
was created mareschal of France. He distinguished him-
self in the ensuing year against the Imperialists, and
gained a brilliant advantage, which, however, be rather
disgraced by bis pompous manner of announcing it. He
was less fortunate in 1704, when being engaged against
the English in the plains of Hochstedt, near Blenheim^ he
was defeated and brought a prisoner to England, where he
remained for seven years. Soon after this battle, be said,,
in a kind of peevish compliment to the duke ef Marl*
borough, ** Your grace has defeated the finest troops in
Europe ;^* ** You will except, I hope," said the duke,
*' the troops who beat them.*' His residence in England,
say the French historians, was not without its use to France ;
as he very much assisted in detaching queen Ani»e from the
party of the allies, and causing the recall of the duke of
* Eloy Diet. Hist, de Mct^icine,— Ndtcs on the Tatltr, ssd wQnftHu;
clibr«s.
I 2
llf T A L L A R D. '
Marlborough. He returned to Paris in 17 15, and waif"
created aAluke. In 1726 be was named secretary of states
^hkh booQur he did not long retain, but died March 3^
1728^ at the age of severity-six. He was a man' of good
talents and character ; bis chief fault being that he was
rather inplined to boasting./ ^
TALLENTS (Fbancis), a non- con for mist divine of con-
siderable eminence and learning, was born at Paisley, near
Chesterfield, Nor.' 16 19, and educated at the public schools
at MiCnsfietd and Newark, whence he went to Peterhouse,
^ambridf;e,. but being chosen sub-tutor to the sons of the
eapl of Suffolk, removed for that purpose to Magdalen
college, and in 1642 travelled with them on the continent
On his return he was chosen fellow of Magdalen college^
and afterwards became senior fellow and president. In
1648 be was'ordained at London, in the presbyterian forok
In 1652 he left the university, and went to Shrewsbury,
where he became minister of St J Mary^s. At the restora-
tion, an event in which he rejoiced, he was inclined to
conform, but pt'obably scrupling to be re-ordained, whicn.
was thtt chief obstacle Vvith many other non-conformist»,
he was ejected. In 1670 he again visited the continent's
tutor to two yotmg gentlemen, and about three years after-
wards returned to Shrewsbury, and preached in a dissent-
ing meeting there, while unmolested ' Uk lived also some
Affet reaching thb
sermon- was preached by the cel^rated Matthew Henry,
who, in anaccount appended, gives him a Very high cha-
«racter f6r.piety, learning, and moderation. He was one i!X
those of whom the great Mr. Boyle took early notice, and
;lived in^ friendship with all his life. He published a fe^
religiQti|s, chiefly eoutroversiM, tracts, bpt .i^ principalty
.Remembered as the editor. of aVork once iu'V^ry High re«-
jiutation, " A view of Universal History; ^'r, chrolholo^icitl
.Tables,'' engraved iii his bouse and mider biis particulai:
inspectiion) on sixteen large' copper-plates. * / - >' i
TALLIS (Thomas), one of the greatest Jhlisicikns di
ibis country, err'of Europe, in his time, Nourished abbilb
the middle of 'ibe^xteenth century. He is said to hai^
been oi^anist of Ae f oyai chapel to king Henry Vlll. king
T A L 1 1 S. lit
SJd ward VI. queeo Mary y and ^cj^qeeo Elizabeth; bat the
Inscripooii on bis graye-stoiTewarniiits .no 8ii€b assertion;
p[n tii9 two reigns of Edward Vt, and queen Mary^ he was
simply a geutlen)an of the^jcbap^l^ and served for seven-
pence halfpenny a day ; but under, £lizabetb| he and Bird
were gentleman of the chapel apd'^r^pists. The studies
of Tallis seem to have been wholly devoted to the service
of the churchy for bis natne is not to be found to any mu-
sical poQipositions of sougs, ballads, madrigals, or any of
tbos^ lighter kinds of mu^c framed with a view to private
recreation. Of the many disciplfes who had profilied by his
iinstruction,.Bird seems to have possessed the greatest share
of his affection, one proof of which' was a joint publicatipii
hy them of ctne of the noblest eollectionsof hymns and
o|her comppsitioHs for the service of the church that ever
appeared io any age or country. Thjs was printed by Vau*
troliier in l?75f with the title of '^ Can tioAes quss ab ar^
^upiientio sacrs^ vocantur quinque jet sex partium, . Autori-*
.bus Thomas, Talii^io et Gulielmo Birdo,^ Anglis, sereuissi*
mae reginai majestati^a.prtyato sacello genqjrosis et organ.<^
istisy^' and was published under the protection of a patent
x>f queen Elizabeth, the first of the kiiod that bad ever beea
;gr^rited. ,5^
Though it has beeA commonly said th^t Tallis was orm
(ganist to Henry VIIL and the three fiuccieec||ng princes
liis (|espenda[^s,, it may. well be dqubted wbet^^r any ky^
fiQan were iemployed in ;|bat office till. the begini^ing of the
oreign of queen El jizahe|b,. vHsen Tallfs and Bird were se^
verally appointed mrgaoisj^s of the royal chapel. Notwith*-
'staqfipling be ^as. a diligent collector, of .q^usical antiquities,
and a careful peruser. of the worics.pf .other men, the com**
;pj[^itiQns.of TaUis, learui^d and elegf^nt as they are, are so
truly original, that hemay justly, be. 9aid to be the father
«f tbQ cathedral style?; and, ^thi^ugl} a,,like appeUatioa is
givi^n by the Italian/; tbil^lejstrioa, it is much to be ques-
tioned, considering t|iiejbtaie,.^{ien Tallis flourished, whether
he could derive t^e least mlvj^niiage from the improvements
" of that gre^ ajaq. Perhapp. i%e. laid %he foundation of his
studies in the wq^karof the'ol^ qs^thedralif ts of this king*-
dom, ahd^.probabtl}^ in those^ pf the Gemiau musicians,
.w))o ^n bis tiipe .ha,d the iNrere^Lueopfi ^j^he Italians ;
and that he had an emulation to excel even these^ may
be presumed frc^m the foUowing pactieulan John Oken-
heim^ a native of the Low Countries, and a disciple uf
lis T A L L I &
lodoeus Prtt€Qsi»y had made a conpofition for no fewer
that! thirty*stx Toicfes, which, Glareanos says, waa greattyi
admired Tallis composed a motet in forty parts, the bis^
tory of which stupendoas composition, as ^r b» it can now
be traced, is given by sir John Hawkins. Notwithstanding
his supposed attachment to the Romish religion, it seems
that Tallis accommodated himself and his stisdies to the
alterations introduced at the reformation. With this view,
he set to music those several parts of the English litargy,
which at that time were deemed the most proper to be
stmg, namely, the two morning services, the one compre*
bending the " Venite Exnltemus,** « Te Deum,'* and
*' Benedictus ;*' and the other, which is part of the com«
tnunion^officO) consisting of th^ ^ Kyrie Eleison,*' *^ Ni-
eene Creed,'' and ** Sanctus :" as aUo the evening service,
containing the *^ MagniBcat,*' and ^^ None dimittis.** AU
these are comprehended in that which is called Tallis's
first service, as being the first of two composed by hsm«
fie also set musical notes to the Preces and Responses,
and composed that Litany which for its excellence is sung
on solemn occasions in all places where the choral service
is performed. As to the Preces of Tallis in his first ser*-
vice, they are no other than those of Marbeck in his book
of Common-prayer noted: the Responses are somewhat
diffeient in the tenor part, which is supposed to contain
the melody ; but Tallis has improved them by the addition
mf three parts, and has thus formed a judicious contrast
between the supplications of the priest and the suffrages of
^e people as represented by the choir. The services of
Tallis contain dso chants for the *< Venite Exultemus,*'
mnd the ^< Creed of St. Athanasius :" these are tunes thait
divide each verse of the psalm or hymn according to the
pointing, to the end that the whole may be sung alter-
nately by the choir, as distinguished by the two sides of
the dean and the chanter. Two of these chants are pub^
lished in Dr. Boyce's Cathedral Music, vol. I. The carl^
of selecting from the Comilft)d-prayer the ofiices most pro-
per to be sung was a matter of some importance, especially
as the rubric contains no directions about it ; f9r this rea-
son it is supposed that the musical part of queen Etiza-
beth's liturgy was settled by Parker, archbishop of Canteie^
bwy, who was not only it great divine, an i&xclrtloiit'Catibft-
lawyer and ritualist, and a general scholar, but also- a
skilful musician. Besides ^be offices above-mentioned.
T A L L I 8. 119'
conttitoting what am now term^ the Morniof , Commas
ntoQ, knA Evening Senriees, in ibar parts^ with the Precet»
Responses, and Litany, Tallis composed many anthems.
He died Nov. 23, 1585, and was buried in the^ parish-
church of Gre^i wich in Kent ; where there is a brass plate
for him in the chaocet ; the mscription on which was. re^
paired by dean Aldricb, and may he seen in Strype's Stow>
fcnt no memorial now remains. ^
TAMERLANE, or Timwr Bec, the great conqiieror of
the East, was born in I3S5, in the village of Kesch, be-
longing to the ancient Sogdiana« His name of Tamerlane
is derived by some writers from Tinmr Lenc^ (mt Tirnur the
iame^ as he had some defect in his feet. His origin is un«-
certain, some reporting him to be the son of a shepherd,
«nd others, of the royal blood. He mised himself, how*
ciwr, by his personal courage and ttJents. He was dktin«»
fished early foy these qualities; and, having acquired
some followers devoted to bis fortunes, his first oonqnest
was that of Balk, the capital of Khorasan, on the frontiers
of Persia. He then made himself ma^er of the whole pre^
vince of Gandahar, and returning to subdue the people
beyond the Oxus, took Bagdad; He now determined to
undertake the conquest of India ; bat his soldiers, fatigued
by their former efforts, refused at first to follow him; On
this occasion he employed a pretended prophet to exhort
them in the name of heaven; and having made them
itthamed of their reluctance, and filled them with a strong
enthusiasm, led. them on to greater victories. Delhi feM
before him, and he became possessed of the immense trea-
sures of the Mogul empire. Returning from his Indian
exploits^ he entered Syria and took Damascus : and Bag^
dad having attempted to revolt, he made a terrible exam-
ple^ by putting many thousands of the inhabitants to the
eword, and delivering, the city to pillage. Bajazet, em-
peror of the Turks, now attracted his notice, and to him
he sent an embassy, requiring'him to do justice to some
Mahometan prinoes whom he had deposed, and to abandon
the siege of Constantinople. This haughty message being
as haughtily answered,, war was commenced between them* .
Tamerlane marched towards Bajazet, whom, in 1402, he
engaged^ conquered, and took prisoner, in the plains of
Ancyra near Phrygia. The haute lasted three days. Tlie
\ Hawkins and Bwrncjr'e Hittmrkt of Maiic
120 T AM ER L A N E.
Turkish vfptmn 8ay» that after tMs emat, Tmaedwa&utkKA
.Biy^et ft hat he would have (lone to him^ jS he ^mA be«a
.victorious.^ ^i I would. have shut yo«r?4tiVf said Bajas€t»
•^^ in an iron cage.** Upon which he Was ktmaelf com^
demned to the same puuisfament. Some ^mters, houieirer^
boast of the generosity aad magnaotmitjr of aheconqueiisc;
JBe this as it may, he certainly carried his vietorieBito»'«
wonderful extent : while he wasriengaged in ; the> war >witb
Bajazet^ he vanquished Egypt, and adzed the imok^se
treasures of Grand Cait^o^ nor* could any thing in the East
withstand hioir He died about three years •after his ivit^
Aory,. on the first of April, 1405, in, :tbe seventy-firstryear
of.,4is age, and the thirly-siaih nf -his rdgnJ> .When he
found death approaching, he called the princes togedsier,^
4^>pointed his grandsou^to.hfs hiaMir,»anfd diec^ ^xtifessing ,
liis.ampiioit fa^h inrtbeKara^ iiad.ir<9f^eetio^j(he.8ttcnMk
words of .the Mahpmetao^ << TbefOria moiGodtbMiiSodv^
and Mahomet is bis pro[4iet»*\ > . ii ^ .-^.p ' -
Timur, according tp^^Arabsbab, waai^l ^asid ebspiilifti^
wi.ih a fair ,complexioa,.;i^d agreeaMoiooiifitfeiiance^i4Ie
was, very strong, tand well made, <ex0ep^-;his llameni^,
^ which .was on the right side ^f and as -vigosousi in xronstitili^
tioqi as. undaunted in .courage. He I'etaioed'^Jiiaiikciiikiesi
' tOrtba^la^t, Zn bis«Minners(he appears to/havoheeilisftrim^^
faa4n|(. not on^y /alsi«ibood, hut* even jestiilg; eiHis.hi^Oovy^
aJ^Kds a wofi^rlul example of long andun«ariai^leisuflcesa
atJbeadiog ooemaiifi :. He «c#iiquered.se sanch jts^AlesamlefV -
but with far Iwi buplmnitj&f^. - , *.• . ^ 1 .
^ TANCRED (GiUiiSToraw^, a gentltmasrwbatdlcscirMB
to,. bO; reBorded)a<uftPg> the «benefafiftor8. :to literature,^
v9Mi grfiat gi^audson tO' sir Richard. ^Taffcred/ ^who . was .
luigbted for bi§ servicea and a^eye siiffisringa during tbe-
rebellion* Tbi^v.sir ilicbard< was the son of GharJjosTian^ *
cr^nd, esq. who pi^Fch^ed the manor and rectory of ^Hmi^>
ley) anciently QuipcJef, situated bctweea Yorkiand AU-^
boipougb. Christofj^r Tancred, the sqb^ecl^of this article^ ^<
died[in.l754 unosarried, and left :biis house and < estate at;
Whixley for the; maintenance of tv^telvie deeafjedgefitlesMii >
who bave borne arms in tbe'S^F^H<re.of abeir oounti^, eaotai
of whom receive twentyTtlwo^guioeaa amnnally^ jBid>a
s^mrate apai^tment is asHgiied^ta each ><rf tbeni,;bat the*^
whole di^e ioipomaton*, liealso founded feurcmedicaitexbi^i
«/
} DBiT. Hai|,.n9i«»^.
TANeRI/*D. lit
l»kioD^at'Alni»'caltege;<'fbiir in ditrinity it'difisfs^cqU
Jb|^ CMibMc%e^i«iid four law studc^tdiips at Lin^ohiV
jMi oR wbkfa he was ca^ beneher. Tb^fte were origihftn^ 6f
tbe yearljr value of SOl., bol ftre imht lObk^ee^ch. The trua-
(eeaio tbiS'feflndiaiionaire the roasters 6( Caius and Cfarist^i
oeliage^ the president '^nghe eoUege of Pbysicians, tbe
treasofer of Lincoln VIiin,vtahe master of ' the Cfaarter-
li^se^ the.'president of Cfartst's^'hospital, and* tHe governor
of Greenwich ' botpitai. These ekhibitions co&ticioe f^
about eight years, three years after taking the degree of
M. A. or M. B. and after being caUed to the Bar ; and a
Latin oration is spoken annually, by one of the exhibition-
«s and students, in coflsmemoration of their liberal beue*
faetor**
TANNER (ThomjlS), an excellent antiquary, was the
eon ofra father of both his names, ticar of Market Laving^
-ton in Wilts, and was born in 1674. He beeilnie a stu-
dent in Queen^s-college, Oxford, in Michiteltaas-term,
IMfi ;• adaskted clerk in that house, 1690; B. A. 1693;
aiftered inse beigr orders at Christmas, 1694; and became'
chaplain •ofAiUsouls^coUege in January following ; chosen
feUow of the same, .1697 ; chancellor of Norfolk, and rec*
tor of Thorpe near Norwich in 1701; He was installed
prebendary of Ely, Sept. 10, 1713, (which he quitted in
.1?23}; made archdeacon of Norfolk, Dec. 7, 1721 ; candQ
of Cbrist-ichurch, Feb. 3, 1723-4; and proloentor of the
lower bouse of convocation,, which was' convened anno
4727.' To this honour he was unanimously elected on ac--
coiint*of his great abilities, however contrary to his pwo
inwliliatioBs ; and ; was consecrated' bishop of St. Asaph,
Jan^ 23, . 1 732. Bishop Tanner died at Christ-church, Ox^
faad, ])ec« 14, 173d ; and was buried in the nave of that
catbeldsal,* near the pulpit; without any funeral pomp, ac-
cording to his own direction. He or'dered his body to be
.wuapp^ tip in the coarsest crape, and his cofBn to be
covered with sevge, not cloth : the pall-bearers to have
eachvof them one of Baskett-s folio bibles; the under-
bearers a Sherlock upon Death ; to the dean of Cbristr
cbur^, he left five pounds; to the eight canons fivesbil-
iiogs each ; eighty pounds to buy coats for eighty poor
men; and one hundred pounds to the college, towarda
their#iibsacy:tbeii building. A monument to his -memory
) HargroTe^s Hist of Koftmbeiw^.— pent. Ma|^. toI. LXXVII*
123 TANNER.
ia affixed to one of the pillars, with an intcription« AncMher
inscription, aini a translation of it, may be seen in the
** Anecdotes of Bowyer.'* He was thrice married, first, to
Rose, eldest daughter of Dr. Moore, bishop of Ely^ and
by her, who died March 15, 1706, aged twenty-five, be
had a daughter who died in her infancy; secondly, to
Frances, daughter of Mr. Jacob Preston, citizen of Lon-
don« She died' June 11, 1718, aged forty, and left two
daughters, who both died young, and bis son and heir, tbe
fer. Thomas Tanner, who died in 1760, at that time pre-
centor of St. Asaph, rector of Kessingland, and vicar of
LowestofF. The bishop married, thirdly,^ in 1733, Miss
Eliaabetb Scottow, of Thorpe, near Norwich, with a fmv
tune of 15,000/. She survived him, and married Robert
Brittffe, esq. recorder of Norwich, aad M. F. She died
in 1771.
Bishop Tanner^s character seems to have descended to
posterity without any blemish. His virtues are acknow«-
ledged by his contemporaries, and .of his learning a» an
antiquary, which was very exien^ive, he was most readily
communicative to all who were engaged in publications of
that nature. He had a eonsiderable .hand in the second
edition of Wood's *^ Athenae,'* but appears to have givea
offence to some of Wood's firiends, by softening certain of
bis prejudices as. well as bis coarse language. This pro*
duced something like a eontroveray, which the reader may
. find detailed in the life of A. Wood, prefixed to his ^ An^
nals,'^ or in the preface to the new edition of the ^< Athe-
iise,'* by Mr. Bliss. Of the publications more particularly
belonging to himself, the first appeared before he was
twenty years old. It formed an excellent compendium of
our religious houses, setting forth, when and by whom
they were founded, their dedications, orders, and value^;
and was entitled, *^ Nbtitia Monastica, or a short History
the Religious Houses in England and Wales,^* 169^, 8v0.
This was so favourably, received that it became very scarce^
and at the request of bis friends he set aboiit revising and
enlarging it in 1715, but the duties of his station, aird
afterwards his infirmities, prevented him from leaving it
quite complete. It appeared, however, under the care of
the rev. John Tanner, his brother, in 1744, folio, under
the title of '* Notitia Monastica; or an Account of all the
Abbies, Priories, and Houses of Friers, heretofore iq Eng-
land and Wales; and also of all the Colleges andHospitsds
TANNER- t2S
founded before A. D. 151 1. By the right rev. Dr. Tbomiis
Tanner, late lord bishop of St Asaph. Published by Joha
Tanner, A. ML vicar of Lowestoft in Saflblk, and precentor
of the cathedral church of St. Asaph.*^ Of this a much
improved edition was published in 1787^ by Mr. Nasmith;
but the greater part of the impression having been con-
sumed in Mr. Nicholses fire, it now ranks among scarce
books. His << Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica/' which
employed him forty years, was published in 1748, folio,
with a posthumous preface by Dr. Wilkins. He left large
collections for the county of Wilts, and large notes oa
Richard Hegge's Legend of St. Cuthbert, 1663. His im«
mense and valuable collections are now in ibe Bodleian
library at Oxford. His portrait was engraved by Vertue
in 1736, at the expence of the Society of Antiquaries*
The portrait prefixed to the '* Notitia," is inscribed, ** He-
verendns admodum Thomas Tanner, Asaphensia Episco-
pus, PrimsevsB Antiquitatis Cultor. G. Vertue sculp. 1748.**
This print was a copy of that engraved by Vbrtue^ with
aome difference in the decoration, ana this addition to the
inscription : ** Hoc ectypum fratris sui dignissiofii antiquis
moribus ornati posteris sacratum esse voluit Soc. Ant.
Lond. 1736."*
TANSILLO (Lbwis), an Italian poet, whose works were
once proscribed by the inquisition, and having become
acarce, are therefore accounted valuable, was born at Nola
about 1520. He passed a great part of his life attached to
the service of don Pedro de Toledo, viceroy Of Naples, and
don Garcias de Toledo, commander of the gatlies in the
same kingdom. The period of his death is not precisely
known, but he is said to have been judge of Gaieta in
-1569 ; and, as he was then in a very bad state of health,
it supposed to have died soon after. He had the reputa-
tion of a very good poet, and bis productions, as far as
they are now known, are these: 1. '^11 Vendemmiatore,^*
'the Vintager, a poem ; in which he described in too free
M manner, the licence of the inhabitants in the vicinity of
Nola, at the time of the vintages; Naples, 1534; Venice,
•1549, 4to. On this £iccount all his poems were put into
'the Index expurgatorius. Mortified at this rigour, he ad-
dressed an ode to the pope, asserting, that, though his poem
c
* Ath. Ox. vol. 11.— Biog. Brit — LeUers from Emiaeot penooi, 1813, 3 volf.
^fo.—- Gougb's Topogri^by.— Sip. NicelsoB*0 Lfittn» vol. L p. ^7.-- Ni«holB*i
Bowyer. •
Itt T A N $ I L L O.
vas licentiousi his life had not been so; remonsifatinf
against the inclusion of hia innocent productions in the.aeuy-
tence with the culpable piece; and declaring that be, w^^
employed in a poem upon the tean of St. Petisrt ivb^
jneritSy be trusted, would atone for bis ofEence, , aad pro«
cure him deserved honour* In consequence of this od|S»
iivhen the next edition ,of tbe Ind^x espurgatorius ap-
peared^ not only the innoxious pp^;iii9f but the Veodemmi*
.atore also, were omitted, as if .tbe repentance of the pf>&L
bad purified his poem I 2. ^^ ll,.CavallarizzQ/VVijceDS9»
Svo. 4. Sonnets, Songs^ Stanj^as, and some Copaediea.
Lastly, .in 17^7, professor Ra'nza published an. j^edi^ed
poem of Tans^illo's, entitled '^ Balia/' ji^hich ba» be^ ^|^
fgantly translated into Euglisb i^ji Mr* BOS9O0, jindeq the
title « The Nurse," 1758, 4to,* . , ; ♦ j
TARIN (P£T£a), a French phj^cian, boraat.CQur^enai«
died in 1761, at what age is uncertain,, H^twas.knowm^by
various works, of which the followMig,were.]tbet;hief r.^.
•^Elements of Pbysiplogy," translated, from ^bci X^auifk pf
Haller, 1752,. Syo. ?. *• Adversiria <Anatj:)a)g^a, I75j(?, Ug^
with a medical, BibIiogra4>by, «i&tracted fro^ the << Mt^lbor
,dus Studii Medici V pf Hf^ller* 4^ .".Qst^agjp-a|xbia,'VParMv
1753, 4to, a compilation, illustratea by, ongraxiogs, .^^^
" Aothropqtomie,'' pcjjh^ ,art qt dissiecUng^a75Q» 2^j^oI^
l2ou>.. 6. ^^ Desi9i>gr^pli^e» ' or a.treati^e^.po .U^unWntil^
bious. tie wrote also 9Pi^e. medical .articles for tb^fȣi)^
cyclopedia.* , , , / ,n
TARTINI (Joseph),, styled by Dr. Bur;>iByj^ "Oi^iaOr
]nirable,'\was born in April 1692, j^t.^iranpjp tb(e:pi;Qf
vince of Istria. His father, bavjng j>.i^/^a a great bei)dfa%
tor^cto.tbe cathe<jlral at Pare^zo, was enifobledfor hiis/juetx*
Joseph ^as intended fpr the Uw« bu^ t^l^ing ^p tb|9 siudj
of music, among his other pursuits, it .prfivaijed pvj^,,a^
the rest ia gaining bis attachment, {a^ljip, ,be yvaa j^ent
' to the university of Pa4ua» to study as a Jpivili^n^ ^t^ bet
fore he was twenty, having married without.the con$e|9t pjt
j^is parents, they wholly abandoned him. After wandering
for some time in search of an asylum, be twas Veceiv^d in^li
coi^yent at Assjssi, by a monk to wbo^ifi be,wfia:rela^^j^
^ * « Timb6Mbi.<»RMoe's ptefac*. < £loy/I)l^« Hist, dt iMUdecinW
TART IN I. X2S
Here be amused himself by prae^sing the violioy till betog
inccideiitaUy discovered by a Paduan acquaintance, family
differences were accooimodated, and be settled with his
#ife at Ventee. While he femaihed there, he heard, in
1iy'i4f the celebrated Veractni^ whdse performance, exceI-»
iifig every thing he had then heard, excited in his mind a
wonderful emulation. He retired the very next day to An-
iHina, to study the use of tb^ bow with more tranquillity,
Mdahain, if possible, those poi/i^fers of energy and expres-
sion wfajch he had so greatly admired. By diligent study
'and practicb,^be apquited such skill aod reputktion, that in
i7il^,*he was itivitedto the place of first violin, and n>aster
t>f the bs^nfl, in the fettiOus church of St. Antony of Faduk*
He Incd^ 41sb freqqen^ invitations, \yhich he declined, to- vi«
lit PaKkWd London.^ By ^12% he had made, many excel-
lent scholars, and formed a scb'ooY, of method oif pjcactiee,
that^ wtis tfehftBrated*aU ovef^Europe^ and increased iii fame
lb the ^nd of his life. Ih 1T44, be is s&id to l^ave changed
Mis $iyiej^froai extremeKf' difficult execution, to graceful
^i ^j^ressive; istntl'Fai^dalino Bini^ on'e of his best scho-
ktl, Wvln^ h^ird M the change, placed' himself afresh
\
I
' /
regret
td^d near ftfty years'; antl wberehe'wasnbt\'oiTly. regarded
i^4t^'chief and most attractive ornkD^nt,1^ut as ti philosp^*
|Aer, and even a saints having devoted .'himseljf to the ser-
vifce*of bis jiatroti St. Antony orPdclua, '
^'Tfatf first book of solos by TaVtini, wa^ published at Am*
tfterdam, in 1734, the second at Rome; in 1745'; and Dr.
2urney relates tljat he possesses the third, slxth,^j&v^eath,
h[9 Ainth of^^^ublicalious, besides two books printed in
Srtgland, ambtinting toupwards of fifty solos; exclusive pi
id&tiusdripts. fiis <ioncertos amount to t\yo butidr^^d'^ but
afstiH'eptitious copy of two sets having appeared iu Ho|p
*^' d'y he would never own tbem. OPthese, which are yet
iposed to'bd certa^61y genuine, six were composed i^
UiS'fifs^ matin^r, and sixaft^r^ 1744, when be had improve^
h^tr 9tyti^. B\it his mojbt celebrated work is his *f Trattato
lU Mli^ca,** or treatUie on music, iii ^hich, though His sys-
«ifiH,-'ai^'to the scientific part, has since been confuted, he
kp^e^t^^B bhe ,6f the most ingenious theorists of this ceri-
tW^ '^If Wks pVjblished in 1754, in 4to. "Republished, in
^^^T^oaiaPJiB^^M^*?^^ ^^^ prineipi dell' Armonia Musicale;
12« T A R T I N L
•ontanata nel Biatonieo genere/' aiuHber theoretical workL
Tartini was so ambitious of being thougbt a follower of
Coretli's precepts and principles, that, after bis own repu*
tation was in its zenitb, be refiised to teach any other mil*
sic to bis disciples, till the^ bad studied the opera quinia^ 6i
solos of Corelli. His masical character is thus drawn by
the very able judge to whose account we have already re**
'ferred : f* Tartini, on a recent examination of his works^
seems, to my feelings and conceptions, io have had a larger
portion of merit, as a mere instrumentil composer, than
any other author who flourished during the first fifty or
sixty years of the present century. Though be made Co^
relii his model in the purity of bis harmony, and simplicity
of bis modulation, be greatly surpassed that composer in
the fertility and originality of bis invention ; not only in
the subjects of his melodies, but in the truly cantabUe man^
ner of treating them. Many of his adagios want nothing
but words to be excellent, pathetic, opera songs. His aU
legros are sometimes difiicult ; but the passages fairly be**'
long to the instrument for which they were composed, and
were suggested by bis consummate knowledge of the finger*
board, and powers of the bow. He certainly repeats bis pas**
sages, and adheres to bis original motive^ or thetne, toe
much for the favourite desultory style of the present times;
but it must be aHowed that, by his delicate selection and
arrangement of notes, bis passages are always good ; play
them quick, or play them slow, they never seem unmeaning
or fortuitous. Indeed, as a harmonist, be was, perhaps,
more truly scientific than any other composer of his time,
in the clearness, character, and precision of bis bases; whicli
were never casual, or the effect of habit, or auricular pre-
judice and expectation, but learned, judicious, and cer-
tain."*
TARRANTIUS (Lucius), surnamed Firmanus, beclkuse
be was a native of Firmum, a town in Italy, flourished at
the same time with Cicero, and was one of bis .friends.
He was a mathematical philosopher, and therefore -wan
thought to have great skill in judicial astrology. He was
particularly famous by two horoscopes which he drew, the
one the horoscope of Romulus, and the other of Rome.
Plutarch says, '< Varro, who was the most learned of the
Romans in history, had a particular friend named Tarran-
^ Burney'fHistrOfMosio.
T A R R A N T I U S. 127
tfire, wbo^ out curiosity, applied himself to draw fabtoscopesy
by means of a'stroaomical tables, and was esteemed the
most eminent^ in his time.*' Historians controvert some
|Mirticular circumstances of bis calculations ; but all agree
in conferring'on himthe bonorarytitle Prince of astrologers.*^
TARTAGLIA, or TART A LEA (Nicholas), a noted
mathematician, was born at Brescia in Italy, probably to-
vfrards the conclusion of the fifteenth century, as we find
ht was a considerable Ulster or preceptor in matbematics
iff 1521, when the first of his collection of questions and
answers was written, which he afterwards publislied in
1546, under the title of ** Quesiti et Inventioni diverse," at
Venice, where he then resided as a public lecturer on ma*
theniatics, he having removed to this place about 15S4*
This work consists of nine chapters, containing answers to
ft number of questions oi^ all the different branches of ma«
thematics and philosophy then in vogue. The last or ninth
#f these, contains the questions in algebra, among whicK
taee chose celebrated letters and communications between,
Tartalea and Cardan, by which our author put the latter in
possession 'of the rules Sor cubic equations, which he first
diacoTered in 1530.
The fiv^t work of Tartatea^s that was published, was his
** Nova Seientia itiventa,'' Venice, 1537, in 4to. This is a
treatise on the theory and prai^tise of gunnery, and the
first of the kind, he being the first writer on the flight and
path of balls and shells. This work- was translated into
£nglish by Lucar, and printed at London in \6S^, folio,
with many notes and additions by the translator. « Tartale&
f^ublished at, Venice, 1 543, in folio, the whole books of
Euclid, accompanied with many curious notes and com-
mentaries. But the last and chief work of Tartalea was hit
^Trattatodi NumerietMisure," 1556, and 1560,fol. This is
an universal treatise on arithmetic, algebra, gecHuetry, men-
SQration, &c. It contains many other curious particulars
af the disputes between our author and Cardan^ which
ended only with the death of Tartalea, before the last pare
ef this work was published, or about 1 558.'
^ TASSIE (James), a very ingenious artist, in the mqdeU
Kng department, was born in the neighbourhood of Glas-
gow, of obscure parents, and began life as a country stone*
«
• * Geo. Dict-*-HuttQD*s Dictionary.
I Bullart's Academie d«t Scieoces.— Gen, 0iet»— Huttoo'S' DictioDary*
•I
128 . T A S S I E.
BiMon^ without the etpectttion of ever ri«ng h^(iier: Ga«
ing to Glasgow on a fair-day, to enjoy himself with bltf
companions, at the time when the Fouiis^s were attempting
to establish an academy for the fine arts in that city, \m
saw their collection of paintings, and felt an irresistible im-
pulse to became a painter. He accordingly removed to
Glasgow y and in the academy acquired a Knowledge of
drawmg, which unfolded and improved hit natural taster
He was frugal, industrious, and persevering; but he was
poor, and was under the necessity of devoting himself to
atone-cutting for his support ; not without the hopes that
he might one day be a statuary if be could not; be a painter.
Resortii^ to Dublin for employment, he became known to
Dr. Quin, who was amusing himself in his leisure hours
witb endeavouring to imitate the precious stones in coloured
pastes, . and take accurate impressions of the engnMrin|^
that were on them.
That art was known to the ancients, and. many specimens
from them are now in the cabinets of the curious. It seemi^
to have been lost in the middle ages ; was revived iu Ttalj
under LeoX. and the Medici family at Florence ; and be«
cam^ more perfect in France under the reg(^ocy of the^
duke of Oileaiis, by his labours and those of BoQsb^rg.
By those whom they instructed as assistants in the labora-
tory it continued to be practised in Paris, and was carried
to Rome. Their art was kept a secret, and tlieir collec-
tions were small. It is owing to Quin and to Tassie that it
has been carried to such high perfection in Britaip, au4
has attracted the attention of Europe.^ . a
Dr. Quin, in looking out for an assistant, soon discpvered
Tassie to be one in whom he could place perfect confi-
dence. He was endowed witb fine taste.; he was modest
iand unassuming ; be was patient; and possessed the highest
integrity. The doctor committed his laboralorv and ex^
periments to his care. The associates were fully succfi^s-.
fill V and found tliemselves able to imitate all the gems^ and^
take accurate impressions of the engravings. As the doc-^
tor had followed the sublect only for ^is amusement, wheo^
the discovery was completed, be encouraged Mr. Tassie t«
repair to London, and to devote himself to the preparatioQi
and sale of those pastes as bis profession. Accordingly, m,
1766, he arrived in the nietropolis ; but he was diffideot
and modest to excess ; very unfit to introduce himself to
the attentiou of persons of raok and of afioencsie ; besides.
T A S 8 I E. 129
the number cff engraved gems in Britain was small ; and
those few were little iioticed. He long struggled under
llifficulties which would have discouraged any one who was
not possessed of the greatest patience^ and the wartiiest at-
tachment to the subject. . But he gradually emerged from
obscurity, obtained competence, and what to him was more^
he was able to increase his collection, and $icid higher de-
grees of perfection to his art. Jiis name soon became r©»'
*spected, and the first cabinets in Europe were open for
bis use ; and he uniformly preserved the greatest attention
to the exactness of the imitation and accuracy of the en-
graving, so that many of his pastes were sold on the con-
tinent by the fraudulent for real gems. His taste led him
to be peculiarly careful of the impression ; and he uni-
foronly destroyed those with which he was in the least disr
sQttisfied. 'The art has been since practised by others ; and
many thousauds of pastes have been sold as 7'assie^s, which
he would have considered as injurious to his fame. Of the
fame of others be was not envious; for he uniformly spoke
with, frankness in praise, of those w|3o executed them well,
ibough they were endeavouring to rival hUnself.
To tixe ancient engravings be added a numerous collec*
tfon of the most eminent modern ones ; many of which ap*
proach in excellence of workmanship, if not in simplicity
of design and chastity of expression, to the most celebrated
of the ancients. Many years before he died he had a
Commission from the empress Catherine of Russia, for above
15,000 different engravinp;s, which being executed in the
k;est and most durable manner, were arranged in aJegant
Cabinets, and w^re placed in the apartments of the palace
of Czarsk Zeb. In executing this commission, Mr. Tassie
availed himself of all the advantages which the improved
state of chemistry, the various ornamental arts, and the
knowledge of the age, seemed to afford. The impressions
were taken in a beautiful white enamel composition, whi9h'
h not subject to shrink, or form air-bladders ; which emits
fire when struck with steel, and takes a fine polish^; and
which sljews evefy stroke and touch of the artist in highe]:
fiferfection than any other substance. When the colours^
mixed colours, and nature of the respective originals, coi)Id
bli ascjertained, they were imitated as compfetely as art can
iitiits^te them : insomuch that many of the paste intaglios
and came6s in this collection are such faithful imitations,.,
that ahlstfc^emsl^fv^^ haVe owned' they" could hardly be
Vol. XXIX. K
•» 'S
130 T A S S I E.
distinguished froiki the originals. And when the colottr
and nature pf the gems could not be authenticated^ th«
pastes were executed in agreeable, and chiefly transparent
cqlours : constant attention being bestowed to preserve
the outlinesy extremities, attributes, and inscriptions. It
Yft^as the learned Mr. Raspe (from whom this account is
taken), who arranged this great collection, and made out
the descriptive catalogue, (See ^^A Descriptive Catalogue/^
&c. 2 vols. 4to, 1791.)
Mr. T^ssie died in 1799, at which time his collection of
engravings amounted to 20,000. For a number of years
he pn^ctised tl:^ modelling of portraits in wax, which he
afterwards moulded and cast in paste. In taking likenesses
he was, in general, uncommonly happy : and it is remark-
able, that he believed there was a certain kind of inspira-
tion (like that mentioned by the poets) necessary to give
bim full success. The writer of his life in the Encyclopan'*
dia Britannica, in conversing with him on the subject,
always found him fully persuaded of it. He mentioned
many instances in which he had been directed by it : and
even some, in which, after he bad laboured in vain to
realize his ideas on the wax, be had been able, by a sud-
den flash of imagination, to please himself in the likeness
several day^ after he had seen the original. He possessed
also an uncommon fine taste in architecture, and would
have been eminent in that branch if he bad followed it. In
private life Mn Tassie was universally esteemed for his uni-
form piety, and for the simplicity, the modesty, and bene-
iK>lence, that shone in the whole of his character. '
TASSO (ToRQUATO), a most celebrated Italian poet,
was descended from the illustrious bouse of the Tassi of
Almenno, abo^it five miles from Bergamo, a family which
bad supported itself by alliances till the time of Bernardo
Tasso, whose mother was of the bouse of Cornaro. Th6
estate of Bernardo, the father of our poet, was ik) wise
equal to his birth ; but this deficiency, in point of fortune,
was in some measure compensated by the gifts of under-
tianding. His .\yorks in verse and prose are recorded as
iQonuments of his genius ; and his fidelity to Ferrante of
Saiiseverino, prince of Salerno, to whom he was entirely
devoted, entitled lum to the esteem of every osian of ho-
iHHir. This prince had made him his secretary, a»nd taken
1 Dr. ei«if '« .Sup|>le«Kut to the JgncycUp, BritMnien.
T A S S a 131
•
faim with him to Naples, where he settled, i^d married
Portia di Ro$si, of one of the moi(t illustrious families in
that city.
Portia was six months gone vtqth child, when she was in*
yited by her sister Hippoiita to Sorrento, ta pay her a
visit. Bernardo accoaipanied her thither : and in tbia
place Portia was delivered of a son, on the 1 1th day of
March, 1 544, at noon. The infant was baptised a few
days after, in the metropolitan church of Sorrento, by the
name of Torquato. Bernardo and Portia returned soon
after to Naples with him, concerning whom historisms re«
late incredible things of his early and promising genius.
They tell us, that* at si'x months old, he not only spoke
and pronounced his words clearly and distinctly, but
thought, reasoned, expressed bis wants, and answered
questions ; that there was nbthing childish in his words,
but the tone of his voice ; that be seldom laughed or pried ;
and that, even then, he gave certain tokens of that equality
of temper which supported him so welt in his future mis*
fortunes.
Toward the end of his third year, Bernardo bis father
was obliged to follow the prince of Salerno into Germany,
which journey proved the source of all the sufferings of
Tasso and his family. The occasion was this : Don Pedro
of Toledo, viceroy of Naples for the emperor Charles V,
bad formed a design to establish the inquisition in that'
city. The Neapolitans, alarmed at this, resolved to seodi
a deputation to the emperor, and made choice of the prince
of Salerno, who seemed most able, by his auihority and
riches, to oppose the viceroy. The prince havit)g con-
sented, Bernardo Tasso accompanied him into Germany ;
but, before his departure, committed the Qwe of his son
to a man of learning ; under whom, at three years of age,
they tell us, he began to study grammar; and, at four,
was sent to the college of the Jesuits, where he made so
rapid a progress, that at seven he was pretty well acquainted
with the Latin and Greek tongues; at the same age he
made public orations, and composed some piex^es of poe-
try, of which the style is said to have retained nothing of
puerility.
The success the prince of Salerno met with in his em-
bassy greatly increased his credit amongst the Neapolitans,
but entirely ruined him with the viceroy, who so much
exasperated the emperor against the prince of Salerno^
K 2 . »
1S3 T A S S O.
that Ferrante, finding there was no longer any security fot
bim at Naples, and having in vain applied to gain an ai|'
dieuce of the emperpr, retired to Rome, and renounced
his allegiance to Charles V. Bernardo Tasso would not
abandon his patron in his ill fortune ; neither would he
leaye his son in a country where he himself was soon to be
declared an enemy ; and foreseeing he should never be
able to return thither, be took Torquato ^ with him to
Rome.
As soon as the departure of the prince of Salerno was
known, he, and all his adherents, were declared rebels* to
the state ; and Torquato Tasso, though but nine years of
age, was included by name in that sentence. Bernardo,
following the prince of Salerno into France, committed
his son to the care of his friend and relation Maurice Ca-
taoeo, a person of great ability, who assiduously cultivated
the early disposition of his pupil to polite literature. After
the death of Sanseverino, wh^ch happened in three or four
years, Bernardo returned to Italy, and engaged in the ser*
vice of Guglielmo Gonzaga, duke of Mantua, who bad
given hiii9 a pressing invitation. It was not long before
be received the melancholy news of the decease of hjs'
wife Portia, which determined him to send for his son,
that they might be a mutual support to each other in their
affliction. He was now his only child, for his wife, befdt;'e
her death, had married his daughter to Martio Sersale^ a
gentleman of Sorrento. He was greatly surprised, on his
son's arrival, ta see the vast progress he had made in hi»
studies. Although but twelve years of age, he bad, ac-
cording to the testimony of the writers of his life, entirely
completed his knowledge in the Latin and Greek tongues :
h« was well acquainted with therules of rhetoric and poe(;ry,
aed completely versed in Aristotle^s ethics. Bernardo soon
determined to send him to .the university of Padua, \o
study the Jaws, in company with the young Scipio Gon-
zaga, afterwards cardinal, nearly of the same age as him->
self. With this nobleman Tasso^ then seventeen years of
age, contracted a friendship that oever ended. but with his
life. He prosecuted his studies at Padj^a wit^greax dili-
gence and success: at the same time employing his leistire
hours upon philosophy and poetry, be soon gave a public
proof of his talents, by his poem of " Ripaldo," Which he
published in the eighteenth year of his age.. T^ls i>oem,
which is of the romance kind, is divided into twelve books
y A s s o. ii^
in ottava rima, a<ld contains the adventures of Rinakilf^
the famous Paladin of the court of Gharlemain, who mak^i
so principal a figure in Ariosto^s work, and the Brst achie?e<-
xnents of that Knight for the love of the fair Clarice, whom
he afterwards marries. The action of this poem precedes
that of the ** Orlanda Furioso:" It wiis composed in ten
months, as the author himself infdrnis us in* the preface,
and was first printed at Venice in 1562. Paolo Be^ii speaks
very highly of this performance, which undoubtedly is not
unwdrthy the early efforts of that genius which afterwards
.produced the " Jerusalem."
-Tasso^s father saw with, regret the success of his son's
,poem : he was apprehensive, and not without reason, tbut
the charms of poetry would detach him from those more
,soiid studies which he judged were most likely to raise him
in the world : and he knew well, by his own experience,
that the greatest skill in poetry will not advance a man^s
private fortune. He was not deceived in his conjecture ;
Torquato, insensibly carried away by his predominant pas-
sion, followed the examples of Petrarch, Boccace, Ariosto,
and others, who, contrary to the remonstrances of their
friends, quitted the severer studies of the law for the more
pleasing entertainment of poetical composition. In short,
h^ entirely gave himsif up to the study of poetry and phi-
losophy. His firkt poem extended his reputation through
all Italy ; but his father was so displeased with his conduct
that he went to Padua on purpose to reprimand him. Though
he spoke with great vehemence, and mad^ use of several
harsh expressions, Torquato heard him without interrupting
him., and his composure contributed not a. little to increase
his father's displeasure. " Tell me,*' said Bernardo, " of
what use is that vain philosophy, upon which you pride
yourself so much ?" " It has enabled me," said Tasso
modestly, "to endure the harshness of your reproofs.'*'
The resolution Tasso had tike n to devote himself to the
Muses was known all over Italy ; the principal ^persons of
the, city and college of jpologna invited him thither by
meai)s of Pietro Doiiato Cesi, then vice-legate, and after-
wards legate. ^ But Tasso had not long resided there, when
he was pressed 4>y Sci'pio GoUzaga, elected prince of the
academy established at Padua, under the name of Etherei,
to return to! that city. He could not wirtfastand this sohbita-
tion ; and Bolosgina being at that time the sgeue of civil
compnotion, he was the more willing to seek elsewhere for
1S4 T A 8 S a
tbe repose be loved. He was received- with extreme joy
by all the abAdeaiy, and being incorporated into that so-
ciety, at the age of twenty years, took tipon himself the
name of Pentito ; by which he seemed to show that he re-
pented of ait the time which he had employed in the study
of the law. In this retreat he applied himself afresh to
philosophy and poetry, and soon became a perfect master
of both : it was this happy mixture of his studies that made
him an enemy to all kinds of licentiousness. An oration
was made one day in ihe academy upon the natare of love;
the orator treated his subject in a very masterly manner,
but with too little regard to decency in the opinion of
Tasso, who, being asked what he thought of the discourse,
replied, ^' that it was a pleasing poison.'*
Here I'usso foniied the design of his celebrated poem.
*' Jerusalem Delivered f' be invented the fable, disposed
the different parts, and determined to dedicate this work
to the glory of the house of Este. He was greatly esteemed
by Alphonso II. the last duke of Ferrara, that great patron
of learning and learned men, and by his brother, cardinal
Luigi. There was a sort<of contest between these two bro--
tfaers, in relation to the poem : the cardinal imagined that
be had a right to be the MsBcenas of all Tasso's works, as
<^ Rin^ildo," his iirst fMece^ had been dedicated to him:
•the duke, on the other band, tbooght that, as his brother
had already received his sliere of honour, he ought not to
be otfended at seeing the name. of Alpbonso at the head of
the ** Jerusalem Delivered.*' ' Tasso for three or four years
.suspended his determination : ut length, being earnestly
pressed by both the brothers to take up iiis residence in
Ferrara, he suffered himself to be prevailed upon. The
duke gave him an apartment in his palace, where he lived
'141 peace and affloencei end pursued his design of i39m-
pleting his ^^ Jerusalem," wktcb he now resolved to dedi-
cate to AlphoDSO. The duke, who was destroos of fixing
TasBo near binl^ had thonglils of marrying hist advanta-
geously^ bttt he always evaded, aiiy proposal of that kifid :
though he appeared peculiarly devoted to Alphonso, yet
he neglected wot to pay his co«rt to the oirdinal.'
• The name of Tasso now became faiaiobs; tht^oa^h all
Europe : and the caressea he iteceived from Charles IX. in
a journey he made to France with tardinal Lufigi, who went
thither in quality of legate, show that his reputation was
not cettfined to. his ovai country. '.The cardinal's legation
T A 8 S O. 136
being finished, Tasso returned to Ferrara, where he applied
himself- to finish bis '^Jerusalem," and in the mean time
published his <' Aminta/' a pastoral comedy, which was
received with universal applause. This performance was
looked upon as a master-piece in its kind, and is the ori*
ginat of the " Pastor Fido'* and " Filli di Sciro.'' It was
not easy to imagine that Tasso eould so well paint the
effects of love, without having himself felt that passion :
it began to be suspected that, like another Ovid, he had
raised his desires too high, and it was thought that in many
of his verses he gave bints of that kind. There were at
ike duke's court three Leonoras, equally witty and beau-
tiful, though of different quality. The first was Leonora
of Este, sister to the duke, who having refused the most
advantageous matches, lived unmarried with Lauretta,
duchess of Urbino, her elder sister, who was separated
from her husband, and resided at her brother's court.
Tasso had a great attachment to-this lady, who, on her side,
honoured him with her esteem and protection. She wasi
wise, generous, and not only well read in elegant litera-
ture, but even versed in the more abstruse sciences All
these perfections were undoubtedly observed by Tasso,
who was one of the most assiduous of her courtiers * and it
appearing by his verses that he was touched with the charms
of a Leonora, they tell us that we need not seek any fur->
ther for the object of his passion.
The second Leonora that vmM given him for a mistress
was the Gfountess of San Vitale, daughter of the count of
Sala, who lived at that time at the court of Ferrara^ and
passed for one of the most accomplished persons in Italy.
Those who imagiued that Tasso would not presume to lift
his eyes to his master^s sister, supposed ttmt he loved this
kdy. It is certain ihat he had fre(}aent opportunities of
discoursing with her, and that she had frequently been the
subject of his verses. The third Leonora was a lady in the
service of the princess Leonora of Est^a ' This person was
thought by some to be the most proper object of the poet^s
gallaptry. Tasso, several times, employed his muse in
her service ; in one of his pieces he confe»ises that, con-
sidering the princess as too high for his hope, be had fixed
bis affection upon her, as of a condition more suitable to
bis own. But if any thing can be justly drawn from this
E articular, it seems rather to strengthen the opinion, that
is desires, at least ^t one time, had aspired to a greater
156 T A S 8 O.
height. It appears, however, difficult to determine with
certeinty in relation to Tasso's passion ; especially wlien
we consider the privilege allowed to poets : though M.
Mirabaud makes no scruple to mention it as a circdimstaoc«
almost certain, and fixes it without hesitation on the prin-
cess Leonora. Tasso, himself, in several of his . poems,
seems to endeavour to throw an obscurity over his passion.
. In the mean while Tasso proceeded with his '* Je-
rusalem," which h^ completed in the thirtieth year of his
age : but this poem was not published by hiii own autho-
rity ; it was printed against his \vill, as soon as he had
finished the last book, and before he had time to give the
revisals and corrections .that a work of such a nature re-
quired. The public bad already seen several parts, <whicb
bad been sent into the world by the authority^ of his pa-
trons. The success of this work was prodigious : it 'was
translated into the Latin, French, Spanish, and even the
oriental languages, almost as soon as it appeared *, and it
piay be said, that no such performance ever before raided
its reputation to. $uch a height in so small a space of time.
But the satisfaction which Tasso must have felt, in spite of
' all bis philosophy, at the applause of the public, was soon
disturbed by a melancholy event. Bernardo Tasso, who
spent his old age in tranquillity at Ostia upon the Po, the
government of which place had been given him by the duke
of Mantua, fell sick. As soon as this news reached his
son, he imuaediately vi^ent to hitn, attended him with the
most filial reg-ard, and scarce ever stirred from his bed-
side during the whole time of his iUness: but all these
cares were ineffectual ; Bernardo, oppressed with age, aild
overcome by the violence of his distemper, paid the un-
avoidable tribute to nature, to the great affliction of Tor-*
quato. The duke of Mantua, who bad a sincere esteem
ibr Bernardo, caused him to be interred, with much pomp,
-ia the church of St, Egidius at Mantua, with this simple
inscription on 4iis tomb :
^' dsSA BfeRNARDI TaSSI."
' This death seemed to forebode other misfortunes to
Tasso ; foV the remainder of his life proved almost one con-
tinued series of vejcation and arffliction. About this time a
swarm of criticsbegan to attack his " Jet-usatemj^'arid the
'fldaddmy d^lTk' Crusca, in particular, published a criticism
*oV his poem, in which they scfupled not to prefer the rhap-
T A S S O. 1ST
*
Bodies of Palci and Boywrdo to the '^ Jerosalem Delivered*'*
During Tush's residence in the^ duke's coort, he had
contracted an intimacy with a gdntlenan of Ferrara, and
having entrusted him with some transactions of a^verydeli**
cate oatore^ this person waa so treaeherous as ta speak of
them again. Tasso reproached bis friend with his indis*
cretiopi who received his ejipostuUtion in such a manner,
that TassOrWas so far exasperated as to strike him : a cbaU
lenge immediately ensued ; the two opponents met at St.
Leonard's gate ; but, while they were engaged, three bro*
diers of T'asso's antagonist came in and basety fell, all at
once upon Tasso, wIk> defended himself so gallantly that
he wounded two of them, and kept his ground against the
others,- till some people came in and , separated them.
This affair made a great noise at Ferrara : nothing was
talked of but the valour. of Tasso; and it became a sort of
proverb) '^ That Tasso with his pen and his sword was su*
perior to all men.** The duke, being informed of the
quarrel, expressed great resentment against the four bro-
thers, banished them from bis domioiofis, and coo6scated
their estates ; at the same time he caused Tasso to'be put
under arrest, declaring he did it to screen him from any
Mature designs of his enemies. Tasso was extremity mor-
tified to see himself thus con&ned ; he imputed his deten-
tion to a v^ry diifevent cause from what was pretended, and
feaced an ill use might be made of what bad passed, to ruin
him in the duke^s opinion. i .
Though writers have left us very much in the dark with
regard to the real motives that induced the duke to keep
Tasso in confinement, yet, every thing being weighed, it
seems highly probable that the affair of a delicate nature,
said to have bi|en divulged by his friend, must have related
to the princess Leonorai, the duke's sister * : and indeed it
will be extremely. difficult, from any other considei^tioo,
to account fw the harsh treatment he reoeived frem a
prince, who had before shown him such peculiar pnarks of
esteem and friendship. However, Tasso himself had un*
doubtedly secret apprehensions that increased upon him
every day, while the continual attacks which were made
^ ft must be obserTed that bis late whom the reader may be refbrr^d for
biographer, Serassi, denies that there many particulars respecting the dis-
was ever any intrigue between Tasso puiabie events of Tasso's life, on which
and the princess Leonora. — ^Tbe ques- it would be impossible to entet n^ •
lion is ditcufsed at* great length, and woik like. the present.
#ith much acuteness^ by Mr. Black, to
118 T A 8 S O.
Upon bii tfrcidit A» ati author^ not a litUe c<>Qtributad tm
b«igbten bis oiolancboly. At length be resolved to take
the first opponunity U> fly from bis prison, for so be es*
teeesed it, which after about a year's detention be effected,
and retired to Turin, where be endeavoured to remain con<»
celled ; but notwithstanding all his precautions, he was
soon known, and recofnaiended to the duke of Savoy, who
received him into his palace, and showed him eVery miirk
of esteem and affection. But Tasso's apprehensions still
continued ; he thought that tbe duke of Savoy would not
refuse to give him up to the duke of Ferrara^ or sacrifice
tbe friendship of that prince to the safety of a private per-
.son. Full of these imaginations he set out for Rome, alone
and unprovided with necessaries for such a journey. At
his arrival there he went directly to his old friend Mauritio
Cataoeo, who received him* in such a manner as entirely
to obliterate for some time the remembrance of tbe fatigue
and uneasiness be had undergone. He was not only weU
corned by Cataoeo, but the whole city of Rome seemed
to rejoice at tbe presence of so extraordinary a person.
He was visited by princes, cardinals, prelates, and by all
tbe learned in general. But tbe desire of revisiting bis
native country, and seeing his sister Cornelia, soon made
him uneasy in this situation. He left his friend Mauritio
Cataneo one evening, without giving him notice ; and, be-
ginning his journey on foot, arrived by night at tbe mottn<*
tains of Veletri, where he took up his lodging with sous*
shepherds : tbe next morning, diftgruising himself in the^
\ habit of one of these people, he continued bis way, and m
four days time reached Gaieta, almost spent with jpatigoe :
here be embarked on board a vessel bound for Sorrento, at
MyiiUiU p4ace be arrived in safety tbe next day. H^ entered
tbe city and went directly to his sister's house ; she was a
widow^ and tbe two soqs she had by her husband being at
that titne absent, Tasso found her with only some of her
female attendants. He advanced towards her, without dis«
covering himself, and pretending be came with news from
her brother, gave her a letter which he had prepared for
tJiat purpose^ This letter informed her that ber brother's
life was in great danger, and that he begged her to make
use of all tbe interest her tenderness might suggest to her^
in order to procure letters of recommendation from some
pQwerfi^i person, to avert the threatened misfortune. For
further particulars of the affair, she was referred to the
T A S S O. rt9
%
mesienger who brought her this intefiigence. The lady^
terrified at die nevrs, earnestly entreated him to give her
a detail of her brother's misfortane. The feigned mesw
senger then gave her so interesting an account of tbe ' pre*-
tended story, tbat^ unable to contain her affliction, she
fainted away. Tasso was sensibly touched at this eonvin^
cing proof of bis sister's affection, and repented that be had
gone so far : he began to oomfort her, and^ reitioving her
fears by little and iittle, at last discovered bioaseif to her.
Her joy at seeing a brother whom she tenderly loved, was
inoKpressible : s^ter tbe first salutations were over, she was
very desirous to know the occasion of his disguising him^
self in that manner. Tasso acquainted her with his rea-
sons, and, at the same time^ gi^i^g her to understand, that
be would willingly remain with her unknown to the world,
Cornelia^ who desimd nothing further than to acquiesce in
bis pleasure, sent for her children and some of her neareert
relations, whom she thought might be entrusted with the
secret. They agreed that Tasso should pass for a relation
of theirs, who came from Bergamo to Naples upon his pri-
vate business, and from thence bad come to Sorrento to
pay them a visit. After this precaution, Tasso took up his
residence at bis sister's house, where he lived for some
time in tranquillity, entertainiiig himself with his. two
nephews Antonio and Alessandro Sersale, children of great
hopes. Tbfe princess Leonora of Este, however, who was
aioquainted with tbe place of his retreat, invited bim tb
return to Ferra^-a, which he did in company with Gualingo^
ambassador from the duke to the pope. Concerning the
motive of Tasso's return to Ferrara^ 8om6 authors think
tbat, weary of living in obscurity, he had resolved to throw
himself upon the duke^s generosity. This opinion seems
indeed drawn ftxMiA Tasso's own words in a letter written by
him to the duke of Urbino, in which he declares, ^^ that,
he had er^eavoured to make his pleace with the duke, and
had for tbat purpose' written severally to htm, tbe ducbess
of Fermra, the duchess of Ui^inoy and tbe princess Leo^
nora ; ye< never received any answer hot- from the last, who
assured him it was not in her power to render htm any fier«>
vice." We see here that TasSo acknowledges hims^f the
receipt of a letter from the princess ; and in regard to wbat
he says to be the purport of it, it is highly reasonable to
suppose^' that be would be very cautious of divulging the
real^ con tents- «o the duke of Urbino, when his aflairswith
140
T A S S O.
that lady i^ere so delicately circumstanced. This apparent
bare to conceal the nature of his correspondence with her,
seems to corroborate the former suppositions of his un-
common attachment to her ; and when all circumstances are
considered, it seems more than probable that be returned
to Ferrara at the particular injunction of Leonora.
The duke received Tasso with great seeming satisfaction,
and gave him firesh marks of his esteem : but this was not
all that Tasso expected ; his great desire was to be master
of his own works, and he was very earnest that his writings
might be restored to him, which were in the duke's pos-
session ; but this was what he could by jio means obtain :
his enemies had gained such an ascendancy over the mind
of Alphonso, that they made him believe, or pretend to
believe, that the poet had lost all his 6re, and that in his
present situation he was incapable of producing any thing
new, or of correcting his poems : he, therefore, exhorte^
bim to think only of leading a quiet and easy life for the
future : but Tasso was sensibly vexed at this proceeding,
and believed the duke wanted him entirely to relinquish
his studies, and pass the remainder of his days in idleness -
and obscurity. "He would endeavour," says be, in hi^
letter to the duke of Urbino, " to make me a shameful
deserter of Parnassus for the gardens of £picurus, for sceneis
of plea!sures unknown to Virgil, Catullus, Horace, and even
Lucretius himself.'* Tasso, therefore, reiterated his , jen-
treaties to have his writings restored to him, but the duke
Continued i'nflexible, and, to complete bur poet's vexation,
all 'access to the princesses was denied him: fatigued a;t
length with useless remonstrances, he once more quitted
Ferrara, and fled (as he expresses it himself) like anothe.r
Bias, leaving behind him even his books ^hd manuscripts.
He then went to Mantua, where he found duke GugU-
elmo in a decrepid age, and little disposed to protect hiqi
against the duke of Ferrara : the prince Vincentio Gonzaga
received him indeed with great oaresses, but was too
young to take him under his protection: From thence he
went to Padua and Venice, but carrying with him in every
part his fears of the duke of Ferrara, he at last had recourse
to the diike of Urbino, who shewed him great kindness,
but perhaps was very little inclined to embroil hitnself with
his brother-in*law, on such an accouu^t: he advis,ed Tassp
rather to returfa to Ferrara, which counsel he tooS, resolv^-
iah once more to try his fortune with the duke.
T A S S O, 141
Aiphbnso, it may be, exaspejrated at Tasso's flight, and!
pretending to believe that application to study bad entirely
disordered bis understanding, and that a sttict regimen
was necessary to restore him to his former state^ caused
him CO be strictly conflned in the hospital of St Anne.
Tasso tried every method to soften the duke and obtain
bis liberty; but the duke coldly answered those who ap-
plied to him, *^ that instead of concerning themselves with
the complaints of a person in his condition, who was very
little capable of judging for his own good, they ought
rather to exhort him patiently to submit to such remedies
as were judged proper for his circumstances.'' This con*
finement threw Tasso into the deepest despair; he abau*
done.d himself to his misfortunes, and the methods thai
were made use of for the cure of his pretended madnesa
had nearly thrown him into an absolute delirium. His
imagination was so disturbed that he believed the cau^e of
his distemper was not natural ; he sometime^ fancied him-
self haunted by a spirit, that continually disordered his
books and papers ; and these strange notions were perhaps
strengthened by the tricks that were played him by his
keeper. This second confinement of Tasso was much
longer than the first ; but after seven years confinement, his
release was procured by Vincentio Gonzaga, prince ol
Mantua^ who took him wit|i him to Mantua. It is said th^t
the young prince, who was naturally gay, being desirous to
authorize his pleasures by the example of a philosopher,
introduced one day into Tasso's company three sisters, to
sing and play upon instruments : these ladies were all very
handsome, but uot of the most rigid virtue. After some
short discourse, he told Tasso, that he should take two of
them away, and wouM leave one behind, and bade bim
take his choice. Tasso answered '^ ibat it cost Paris very
dear to give the preference to one of the goddesses, and,
therefore, with bis permission, he designed to retain the
three." The pV*ince took him at his word, and departed ;
when Tasso, after a little conversation, dismissed them all
handsomely with presents.
At last, weary of living in a continual state of depend-
ence, he resolved to retire to Naples, and endeavour to
recover his mother's jointure, which had been seized
upoa by her relations when he went injtp exile, with his
father Bernardo. This appeared the only meaus. tp place
him in the condition of life he so mucji d^ired. . He
applied to his friends, and having procured favourable
14a T A 1^ s a
letters to tbe vieeroyi he took leave of the dulse of
Mftcitua and repaired to Bergamo, where he stayed some
time, and thence went to Naples. While bere» dividing
bis time between bis studies and the prosecution of bis
law*Buit, the young count of Palena, by whom be wa»
highly esteemedy persuaded him to take up his resideo^^e
with him for some time ; but in this affair be had not con-
sulted .the prince of Conca, his father^ who, though he had
a value fat Tasso^ yet could not approve of his son^s re^
ceiviag into bis boose tbe only person that remained of a
family once devoted to the prince of Salerno. A conten-
tion being likely to ensue, on this account, between tbe
father and son, Tasso, with his usual goodness of dispo**
sition, to remove all occasion of dispute, withdrew from
Naples, and retired to Bisaccio with his friend Manso, in
whose company he lived some time with great tranquillity.
In this place Manso had an opportunity to examine the
singular effects of Tasso's melancholy ; and often dispsteci
with him concerning a familiar spirit, which he pretended
to converse with. Manso endeavoured^ in vain, tm per*
saade his friend that tbe whole was the illusion of a disturbed
imagination ; but tbe latter was strenuous in maintaining
tbe reality of what he asserted ; and, to convince Manso,
desired him to be present at one ot those mysterious con-
. versations. Manso had the complaisance to meet him the
next day, and while they were engaged in discourse, on a
sudden be observed that Tasso kept his eyea fixed upon a
win^w, and remained in a manner immovable : he called
him by bis name, several tinges, but received no answer :
at last Tasso cried out, ^^ There is the friendly spirit who
is come to converse with me : look, and you will be con-
vinced of the truth of all that I have said.'* Manso beard
him with surprize : be looked, but saw nothing except the
sun-beams darting through the window: he cast bis eyes
all over the room, but could perceive nothing, and was
just going to ask where the pretended spirit was, when be
heard Tasso speak with great earnestness, sometimes put-
ting questions to the spirit, and sometimes giving answers,
delivering the whole in such a pleasing manner, and with
such elevated expressions, that be listened with admiration,
and had not tbe least inclination to interrupt bim. At last,
this uncommon conversation ended with the departure of
tbe spirit, as appeared by Tasso's words; who turning to*
ward MansOy asked him if his doubts were removed. Manso
T A » 8 a us
wras more amaawd than enr ; be scarce knew what to
think pf bis friend'& situaticw, and wayed any furtber con*
versation op the subject.
At the approach of wiater they returned toNaples, wheq
the prince of Palena again pressed Tasao to reside with
him; but Tas$o, who judged it highly uoadvisaUe to com-'
ply with his request, resolved to retire to Rome, and wait
there the issue of bis law-suit. He lived in that city about
a year in high esteem with pope Sixtus V ; when, being
invited to Florence by Ferdinando, grand duke of Tusicany,
who had been cardinal at Bx)me when Tasso first resided
there^ and who now employed the pope's interest to pro-
cure a visit from him, he could not withstand such solicita-
tions, but went to Florencei fthere be met with a most
gracious reception. Yet not all the caresses be received
at the doke's court, nor all the promises of that prince^
eould overcome bis love for bis native country, or lec&sett
the ardent desire be had to lead a retired and independent
life. He therefore took his leave of the grand duke, who
would have loaded him with presents; but Tas80, as uaiiaiy
couid be prevailed upon to accept of no more than was ne-
cessary for his present occasions. He returned to Naples
by the way of Rome, and the old prince of Gonca dying
about this time, the young count of Palena prevailed upon
TassQ, by the mediation of Manso, to accept of an apart-
ment in his palace. Here he applied himself to & correc-
tion of his Jerusalem, or rather to compose a new work
entitled ^^ Jerusalem Conquered," which he had begun
during his first residence at Naples. The prince of Conea,
being jealous lest any otie should deprive him of the poet
and poem, caused him to be so narrowly watched that
Tasso observed it, and being displeased at such a proceed-
ing, left the prince's palace, and retired to his friend
Manso' s, where be lived m^^ster of himself and bis actions;
yet he still ccmtinued upon good terms with the prince of
Conca. ^
In a short time after he published his ^^ Jerusalem Con-
quered," which is a sufficient proof of the injustice of the
criticisms that have been passed upon his ^^ Jerusalem De-
livered ;" since the ^^ Jerusalem Conquered,'* in which he
endeavoured to conform himself to the taste of his critics,
was not received with the same approbation as the form^^r
poem, where he had entirely given himaelf up to the en-
thusiasm of. his genius. He bad likewise designed a third
144 T A a S O.
correction of the sume*poemf wbicb, as we are informed^
was to-have been partly compounded of the Jerusalem
Delivered and Conquered ; but this work was never coai*^
pleted. In all probability, this last performanee would not
have equalled the first : and indeed our poet seems to owe
bis fame to the ^^ Jerusalem Delivered/' the second poem
upon tbat subject being little known.
Manso^s garden commanded a full prospa(6t of the sea.
Tasso and bis friend being one day in a sumnier^hqu&tt
with Scipio Belprato, Manso's brother-in-law, observing
the waves agitated with a furious storm, Belprato said,
** that be was astonished at the rashness and folly of men
who would expose themselves to the rage of so merciless
an element, where such numbers had suffered shipwreck.'*
•* And yet," said Tasso, " we every nigbt go without fear
to bed, where so many die every hour. BeKeve me, death
will find us in all parts, and those places that appear the
least exposed are not always the most secure from his at-
tacks." While Tasso lived with his friend Maoso, cardinal
Hippolito Aldobrandini succeeded to the papacy by the
name of Clement VIII. His two nephews, Cyntbio and
Pietro Aldobrandini, were created cardinals : the first, after-
wards called the cardinal of St. George, was the eldest, a
great patron of science, and a favourer of learned men :
he had known Tasso when he resided last at Kome, and
had the greatest esteem for him ; and now so e£u*nestly in-
vited him to Rome, tbat he could not refuse, but once
more abandoned, his peaceful retreat at Naples. As in
consequence of the confines of the ecclesiastical state being
infested with banditti, travellers, for security, used to go
together in large companies, Tasso joined himself to one
of these ; but when they came within sight of Mola, a lit-
tle town near Gaieta, they received intelligence that
Sciarra, a famous captain of robbers^ was near at band
with a great body of men. Tas$o was of opinion, that they
should continue their journey, and endeavour to defend
themselves, if attacked : however, this advice was over-
ruled, and they threw themselves for. safety into Mola, in
which place they remained for some time in a manner
blocked up by Sciarra. But this outlaw, hearing that
Tasso was one of the company, sent a message to assure
him that he might pass in safety, and offered himself to
conduct him wherever he pleased. Tasso returned him
thanks, but declined acceptjn^ the offer, not choosing.
T A S S O. 145 ,
perhaps, to rely oh the. word of a person of such character*
Sciarra upon this s^nt a second message, by which be ia«
formed Tasso, that, upon bis account, be would withdranr
his men, and leave the ways open. He accordingly did i
so, and Tasso, continuing bis journey, arrived without anjT
accident at Rome, where be was most graciously welcomed
by the two cardinals and the pope himself^ .Tasso applied
himself in a particular manner to cardinal Cynthio, who
had been the means of bis coming to Ilome ; yet be n^-
lected not to make his court, to cardinal Aldobrandini, and
be very frequently <;onversed with both of them. One day
the two cardinals held an assembly of several prelates, to
consult, among other things, of some, method to put a stop
to the license of the pasquinades. One proposed that Pas*
quints statue should be broken to pieces and cast into ibe
river. But.Tasso's opinion being asked, he said, /' it
would be much more prudent to let it remain where it was;
for otherwise from the fragments of the statue would be
bred an infinite number of frogs on the banks of the Tyber,
that would never cease to croak day and night." The pope|,
to whom cardinal Aldobrandini related what bad pasised,
interrogated Tasso upon the subject. " It is true, holy i
father,** said he, *^ such was my opinion ; and I shall add
moreover, that if your holiness would silence Pasquin, the
only way is to put such people into employments as may
give no occasion to any libels or disaffected discourse.**
At last, being again disgusted with the life of a courtier,
he obtained permission to retire to Napl& to prosecute bis
law-suit. At his arrival there, he took up bis lodging in the
convent of St. Severin, with the fathers of St. Benedict*
Thus was Tasso once nK>re in a state of tranquillity and re-
tirement, so highly agreeable to his disposition ; when car*
dinal Cynthio again found means to recall him, by prevail-
ing on the pope to give him the honour of being solemnly
crowned with laurel in the fcapitol. Though Tasso himself
was not in the least desirous of such pomp, yet he yielded
to the persuasion of others, particularly of bis dear friend
Manso, to whom he protested that he Went merely at his
earnest desire, not with any expectation of the promised
triumph, which he had a secret presage would never be.'
He was greatly affected at parting from Manso, and took
his leave of him as of one he should never see again. la
his way he passed by Mount Cassino, to pay his devotion
to the relics of St. Benedict, for whom he had a particuUr
Vol. XXIX. L
146 T A S S O.
reneration. He spent the festival of Christmas in that mo-*
nasteryi and thence repaired to Rome, where be arrived in
the beginning of 1595. He was met at the entrance of that
city by many, prelates and persons of distinction, and was
afterward introduced, by the two cardinals, Cynthio and
Pietro, to the presence of the pope, who was pleased to
tell him, '^ that his merit would add as much honour to the
laurel he was going to receive, as that crown had formerly
given to those on whom it had hitherto been bestowed.*'
Nothing was now thought of but the approaching so-
lemnity : orders were given to decorate not only the pope'»
palace and the capitol, but all the principal streets through
which the procession was to pass. Yet Tasso appeared
little moved with th^se preparations, which he said would
be in vain : and being shewn a sonnet composed upon the
occasion by his relation, Hercole Tasso, he answered by
the following verse of Seneca :
Magnifica verba mors prop^ admota excutft.
His presages were but too true, for, while they waited
for fair weather to celebrate the solemnity, cardinal Cyn*
fhio fell ill, and continued for some time indisposed : and^
as soon as the cardinal began to recover, Tasso himself was
seized with bis last sickness.
Though be had only completed his fifty- first year, bi»^
studies and misfortunes had brot^ght on a premature old
age. Being persuaded that his end was approaching, he
resolved to spend the few days he bad yet to live in the
monastery of St. Onuphrius.' He was carried thither in
cardinal Cynthio's coach, and received with the utmost
tenderness by the prior and brethren of that order. His
distemper was now so far increased, and his strength so
exhausted, that all kind of medicine proved ineflPectual.
On the lOth of April he was taken with a violent fever,
occasioned perhaps by having eat some milk, a kind of ali-
ment he was particularly fond of. His life now seemed in
imminent danger : the most famous physicians in Rome
tried all their art, but in vain, to relieve him: he grew
-worse and worse every day. Rinaldini, the pope's physi-
cian, and Tasso's intimate friend, having informed him that
bis last hour was near at hand, Tasso embraced him ten-
derly, and with a composed countenance returned him^
thanks for bis tidings ; then looking up to Heaven, he ^* ac-
knowledged the goodness of God, who was at last pleased
T A S S O. 147
to bring bim safe into port after so long a storm/' From
that time his mind $eemed entirely disentangled from
earthly affairs : he received the sacramerit in the chapel of
the monastery, being conducted thither by the brethren.
When he was brought back to bis chamber, be was asked
where be wished to be interred ; he answered, in the church
of St. Onuphrius : and being desired to leave some memo-
rial of his will in writing, and to dictate himself the epitaph
that should be engraven on his tomb, be smiled and said,
** that in regard to the first, he had little worldly goods to .
leave, and as to the second, a plain stone would suffice to
cover him.*' He left cardinal Gynthio his heir, and desired
that his own picture might be given to Giovanni Baptista
Manso, which had been drawn by his direction. At length
having attained the fourteenth day of his illness, he received
the extreme unction. Cardinal Cynthio hearing that ha
was at the last extremity, came to visit him, and brought
him the pope's benediction, a grace never conferred in this
manner but on cardinals and persons of the first distinction.
Tasso acknowledged this honour with great devotion and
bumilityj and said, ^* that this was the crown he came to re-
ceive at Rome." The cardinal having asked him '^ if he
' had any thing further to desire," he replied, " the only fa-
vour he had now to beg of him, was, tliat he would collect
together the copies of all his works (particularly his ^^ Je-
rusalem Delivered," which he esteemed most imperfect)
and commit them to the flames : this task, he confessed,
might be found something difficulty as those pieces were
' dispersed abroad in so many different places, but yet he
trusted it would not be found altogether impracticable."
'He was so earnest in his request, that the cardinal,^ unwill-
ing to discompose him by a refusal, gave bim such a doubt-
ful answer as led him to believe that bis desire would be
complied with. TasSo then requesting to be left alone, the
'cardinal took his farewel of him with tears in his eyes, leav-
ing with him his confessor and some of the brethren of the
monastery. In this condition he continued all night, and
till the middle of the next day, the 25th of April, being the
festival of St. Mark ; when, finding himself fainting, he em-
braced his crucifix, uttering these words : In manus tuas^
. Domine — but expired before he could finish the sentence.
Tasso was tall and well-shaped, his complexion fair, jbut
rather pale through sickness and study; the hair of bis
head was of a che^nut colour, but that of his beard some*
L 2
14$ T A S SkO.
what lighter, thick and bushy; his forehead square and
high, his head large, and the fore part of it, towards the
end of his life^ altogether bald ; bis eye-brows were dark '^
his eyes full, piercing, and of a clear blue ; his nose large,
bis lipa thin, his teeth well set and white ; his neck well
proportioned ; bis breast full ; his shoulders broad, and
all bis limbs more sinewy than fleshy. His voice was strong,
clear, and solemn ; he spoke with delibera.tion, and gene-
rally reiterated his last words : he seldom laughed, and ne-
ver to excess. He was very expert in the exercises of the
body. In his oratory, he used little^ action, and rather
pleased by the beauty and force of his expressions,, than
by the graces of gesture and utterance, that compose sq(
great a part of elocution. Such was the exterior of Tasso:
as to his mental qualities, he appears to have been a great
getiius, and a soul elevated above the common. rank of
mankind* It is said of him, that there never was a scholar
more humble, a wit more devout, or a man more amiable
in society. Never satisfied with bis works, even when they-
rendered his name famous throughout the world ; always
satisfied with bis condition, even when be wanted every thing ^
entirierly relying on Providence and his friepds; without
malevolence towards his greatest enemies; only wishing
for riches that be might be serviceable to others, and
making a scruple to receive or keep auy thing himself that
was not absolutely necessary. So blameless aqd regular
a life was ended by a peaceable death, which carriedhim
off in 1595, in the fifty-second year of his age.
He was, buried the same evening, without pomp, ac-.
cording to his desire, in the church of St. Onuphrius, and
bis body was covered with a plain stone. Cardinal Cyn«
thio had purposed to erect a magnificent monument to bis
memory; but the design was so long prevented by sickness
a^nd other accidents, that, ten years after, Manso coming
to Rome, went to visit bis friend's remains, and would bare
taken on himself the care of building a tomb to him ; but
this cardinal Cynthio would by no means permit, having
determined himself to pay that dut;^ to Tasso. However^
Manso prevailed so far as to have the following words en-
graven on the stone :
HIC lACET TORQVATVS TASSVS.
Cardinal Cynthio dying without putting his design in^
execution, cardinal Bonifacio Bevilacqua, of an illustrious
T A S S 0. lit
I
fkmily of Ferrara, caused a stately sepulchre to be erected,
]« the church of St. Onuphrius, over the remains of a fuan
whose works had made all other monuments superfluous.
As to hi» works, we have mentioned his principal : his
**Rinaldo,'* **Aminta/* and " Gierusalemme liberata," an
epic poem in twenty-four books. This poem had been
published in an imperfect state, through the importunity
and authority of some, of his noble patrons, but the first
complete edition of it appeared at Ferrara in 1581, 4 to^
The critics failing upon this work, he proposed to give a
hev^ and corrected edition of it, or, more properly speak-
ibg, to write it over again, which be did, and published at
Rome, under the title of ** Gierusalemme conquistata," in
1593, 4to. But the poem, thus accommodated to the taste,
and ,butnour of bis critics, was not received by the world at
large with the same applause as the first edition had been,
which. is the only one now read. Many writers, especially
among the Italians, have compared Tasso to Virgil; and
their partiality has, perhaps, made Boileau criticize him
more severely than he would otherwise have done : he calls
Tasso^s verges tinsel, when compared with the gold of Vir-
gil; land censures the simple judgment of those, who pre-
fer " le clinquant du Tasse a tout Tor de Virgile." In the
mean time some virtuosi of Italy have made it a question
for a long while, whether Ariosto does not deserve the pre-
cedency of Tasso: a comparison which more judicious cri-
tics think r/ever ought to have been instituted; and Tira-
boschi says we may as well compare Virgil's £neid with
Qvid's Metamorphoses. Tasso's " Jerusalem ".is regularly
epic in its whole construction, and ranks deservedly among
t^e few of that species of composition, ancient or modern,
Which all a;ges will probably acjmire. A little too much of
the marvellous, one or perhaps two of the episodes, and
part of his machinery, are the only subjects to which the
, ihost rigid criticism has ventured to object. Where some
of his ifefectSy some of his conceits, are visible, they have
been referred to his age, but these are not frequent, and
it seems^ generally acknowledged that while he is inferior
to Homer, in simplicity and fire, to Virgil, in tenderness,
and to Milton, in daring sublimity of genius, he yields to
no other in any poetical talents.
T,he %irorks of Tassa have been often printed separately,
at various tunes and places. The abb6 Serassi has enu-
merated 132 editions of the <^ Jerusalem Delivered," of
150 T A S S O.
which be thinks the best was that printed at Mantua by
Francisco Osanna, in 1584, 4to. The '^ Jerosalem Con-
quered^* had but thirteen editions, of which the last is in
1642. ** Rinaldo" had fifteen, and "Aminta" fifty-eight,
without reckoning those which appeared -out of Italy. Of
the translations of the first poem, Serassi mentions eleven
in the different dialects of the Italian, and twenty-threb in
the other languages in Europe, but he has omitted some,
particularly the French translation in Alexandrian verses,
by M. Montenlas.. Tasso*s whole works, together with hit
life, and several pieces for and against his '^ Gierusalemme
Liberata,** were published at Florence, 1724, in six volumes,
folio. The lijTe was written by his friend Battista Manso,
and printed at Rome in 1634 ; of which that by the abb6
de Charnes, printed at Paris. in 1690, 12mo, is only an
abridgment. But the best edition of the whole works, in
Mr. Black's opinion^ is that of Venice, 12 vols. 4to, al-
though it does not bear so high a price. His " Aminta,'*
and '* Gierusalemme liberata,'' have been translated into
English ; the former being published at London in 1628 ;
the latter in 1713; and again, with the true Spirit of the
Original, by Mr. Hoole, in 1762. Within these few yean
English literature has been enriched by a very valuable
and elaborate *^ Life of Torquato Tasso ; with an historical
and critical account of his writings, by John Black," ISIO,
2 vols. 4«to. In this the reader will receive ample ^atis-*
faction as to the disputed parts of Tasso's eventful history^
and many illustrations of the times in which he lived, and
of the lives of his contemporaries, the relative state of li-
terary history, ai^d, indeed, will find an asseihblage of
every kind of evidence that can now be expected to throw
light on the genius of this truly great poet. "
TASSONl (Alessandro), an Italian poet of great fame,
was born al Modena, in 1565. He was early left an or*
phan, and exposed to many difficulties, yet be cultivated
the knowledge of the learned languages with great assi-
duity, and, in 1597, entered into the service of cardinal
Ascdnio Colonna, as his secretary. With him he went
into Spain ; and, after the death of that patron, contrived
to be introduced into the court of Charles Emanuel duke
of Savoy. Not agreeing with the prince cardinal, son of
the duke, he retired^ after a time^ and sought an asylum
1 Life by Hool«, prefixed (o hit Translation.— Life, as above, by Mr. Black.
T A S S O N I. tit
witb cardinal LudovUio, who gave him a pefnsion of iOfk
Roman crowns, and apartments in his palace. After tbo
death of this cardinal, he had recourse at length to hia
natural sovereign Francis I. d'^ste, duke of Modena, from
whom he received an honorary salary. He died in 1635^
and was buried in St. Peter^s. He was a member of the
academy of the Umoristi. His character was lively an4
agreeable, notwithstanding his turn for satire.
His works are, 1. his '' Secchia rapita,^' or rape of the
bucket, which the Italians in general consider as the first
liiodel of a mock^beraic poem that was given in their Ian*
guage. It seems, say the critics of that nation, that the
graces clothed this poem with all their ornaments. A de^
licate burlesque, with the art of joining great things te
amall ; an unaffected lightness, and consummate elegance^
concurred in it to form a complete Italian model of an
beroi-comtc poem, which will in tinie be admired by
strangers. Tb^ edition most valued is that of Ronciglione
in 1624. It was translated into French by Peter Perrault^
1678, in two vols. 12aiD; and again by M. de Cedars, ia
1759, in three volumes. 2. ^^ Considerazione sopra il Pe*
trarca." He thought Petrarch, great as be was, too much
imitated, and tried in this publication to lessen the rag^
for that kind of imitation. In that he succeeded. 3. He
published also " Pensieri diversi," which he made,a very
amusing book^ ^His ^tack upon the imitators of Petrarch
occasioned a contest between him and Gius. Aromatari ;
and that produced finally, 4. *^ La Tenda rossa, risposta
di Girolamo Nomisenti (Alessaudro Tassoni) ai dialoghi de
Falcidio Melampodio,'' (Giuseppe de gli Aromatori,) Franc*
fort, 1613, 8vo. His will is also cited as a piece of hu«
mour, and there are some productions by him still remain-^
ing in manuscript ; among the rest, one entitled '< Esequie
della monarchia di Spagna." Many interesting particulars
respecting Tassoni, accompanied with contemporary liter
rary .history, and much sound criticism, has just been given
in ^^ Memoirs of Alessandro Tassoni, &c* By the late Jo-
seph Cooper Walker, esq. M. R. LA.'* 1815, 8vo, edited
by his brother, Sam. Walker, esq. No other reference
can hereafter be wanting. *
TATE (Francis), an English lawyer and antiquary, the
son of Bartholomew Tate, of Delapre, in Northamptonshire^
1 Memoirs by Walker.
IM T A T R
was born in that couoly in 15^0, and etrter^d of Magdalen
college, Oxford, in 1577. After ^bitie application to study
he left the university without taking a degree, went to the*
Middle Temple, and after bis admission' to the bar, ac^v
quired great reputation as a coun^eUor, not only learned in'
the law, but as a good antiquary, and Saxon scholar. He
had a seat in parliament aboat the end of quef^n ElizabethV
reign, and in the 5th James I. was Lent-reader of the Mid-
dle Temple, and about that time became one oF the justices
itinerant for Wales. He dited Nov. 16, 161^, leaving va-'
rious manuscripts on legal antiquities, the Aite of whtch^
seems unknown, but the following have been printed in
Gutch's " Collcetanea CuriOsa t'* 1. •* The antiquity, use,
and privileges of Cities, Boroughs, and Towns.'* 2.^' The
antiquity, use, and ceremonies of lawful Combats in Eng-
land*" And in Hearne*s " Curious Discourses'* are, 3. ^* Of
Knights made by Abbots. 4.-^* Questions about the an-
cient Britons." 5. '< Of the antiquity of Arms in England.*'
6. ** Of the antiquity, variety and ceremonies of Funefais
in England :" and 7. ^ The antiquity, authority, and suc-
cession of the High Steward of England." ^
TATE ^ (Nauum), a well known Psalmodist, was born
in Dublin in 1^52. His father, Dr; Faithful Tate, was also
son to a Dr. Tate, a clergyman, and was born in the county
of Cavan, and educated in the college of Dublin, where
he took the degree of D.D. In 1641, being then minister
of Bally hays, in that county, he was a great sufferer by the
rebels, against whom he had given some informatidn, and
in his way to Dublin was robbed by a gang, while about
the same time his house at Ballyhays was plundered, and
all his stock, goods, and books, burnt or otherwise de-
stroyed. His wife and children were also^o cruelly treated^
that three of the latter died of the severities inflicted upon
them. After this he lived for some time in the colles:e of
Dublin, in the provost's lodgings. He became then preacher
of East Greenwich, in Kent, and lastly minister of St.
Werburgh's church, in Dublin. He was esteemed a man
of gi*eat piety ; but, as Harris says, was thought to be
* He was matriculated by the name babiy, when he came fco EogUndi^
of Nahum Teat, which Mr. Malone adopted the new spelling of his name.*'
seems to think was his real ivame; but On tbfs we haye only to remark, that
'* being called by the lets polished of the name is spelt both vays in Ib^ title*
bis countrymen, 7a/e, according to the pages of his father's works,
ordinary XrisTi pronunciation, he t>ro-
1 Ath. Ox. Tol. I. new edit. — Archaeologia, Vol. !•
TATE, ISS
puffitm)i<¥9lly incUftedy as perhaps may be stiriniscd front
his own and bis son's Christian oaoofes, names taken from'
the Scriptures being very common with a certain class of the-
puritans. He was living in 1672, but the time of his death
we have not been able to fix. Besides two occasional ser-^
iDpfiSy be publisbedi 1. ^' The doctrine of the three sacred
per$oas of the Trinityy'* Lond. 1669^ 8vo ; and, 2. ^* Me-
ditations/' Dublin, 1672) 8vo.
His son» Nahum, at the age of sixteen, was admitted of
Dublin college, but does not appear to have followed any
profession. It is observed by Wacburtoo, in the notes to
t)ie Dunciad, that he was a cold writer, of no invention,
but translated tcderably when befriended by Dryden, with
whom he sometimes wrote in conjunction. He succeeded
Shadwell as poet«laureat, and continued in that office till
hi^ death, which happened Aug. 12, 1715, in the Mint,-
where he < then resided as a place of refuge from the debta
which he had contracted, and was buried in St. George*flf
church. The earl of Dorset was his patron ; but the chie^
use be made of him was to screen himself from the per*
secutions of his creditors. Giidon speaks of him as a man
of .great honesty and modesty ; but he seems to have been
ill qualified to advance hiijuself in the world. A person
who died in 1763, at the age of ninety, remembered him
well, and said he was remarkable for a down-cast look, and
had seldom much to say for himself. Oldys also describes^
him as a free, good-natured, but intemperate companion.
With the^ qualities it will not appear surprising that he
was poor and despised. He was the author of nine dra-
matic performances, and a ]great number of poems; but'
is at present better known for his version of the Psalms,
in which he joined with Dr. Brady, than any other of his
works. Bis miscellaneous poems are enumerated in Gib-
ber's *^ Lives,'' and by Jacob, who says Tate's poem on
the Death of queen Anne, which was'one ofithe last, is
'^ one of the best poems he ever wrote." His share in
the *^ Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel" is far from
inconsiderable ; and may be seen in the English Poets. He
published also *^ Memorials for the Learned, collected out
of eminent authors in history," &c. 1686, 8vo; and his
'' Proposal for regulating of the Stage and Stage Flays,"
Feb. 6, 1698, is among bishop Gibson's MSS. in the Lam«
beth library. *
. 1 Gibber's Lir^s.—Nichols'i Poemt.— Jacob's liTes.-— Harris'! edition of Ware^
—Malone's Drydeo, toL I« p. Ul.
IS4 T A T I A N,
TATIANi a writer of the primitive church, was a Sy«f
riau by birth, and flourished about the year 170. He wat
a sophist by profession, very profound in all branches o£
literature, and acquired great reputation by teaching rhe*
torie. Being converted to Christianity, he became the
scholar of Justin Martyr, ivhom he attended to Rome, and
partook.with him of the hatred of the philosopher Crescens :
for he tells us himself, that Crescens laid wait for his life,
as well as for. Justin's. While Justin lived he continued
steady in the orthodox belief, but after his death becamd
the author of a new set of fanciful opinions, which, after
propagating them for some time at Rome, he carried into
the east, and opened a school in Mesopotamia, and otheff
places* Nothing is certainly known concerning his death.
His apology for Christianity, entitled ^^ Oratio ad Grae*^
cos,'' ^< An address to the Greeks," the only genuine work
of Tatian which remains, every where breathes the spirit
of the Oriental philosophy. He teaches, that God, after
liavifig from eternity remained at rest in the plenitude of
his own light, that he might manifest himself, sent forth
from his simple nature, by an act of his will, the Logos^
through whom he gave existence to the universe, the es-
sence of which had eternally subsisted in himself. ** The
Logos," he says/ '^ through the will of God, sprang from
his simple tiatiire." This first emanation, which, after the
Alexandrian Platonists, he calls the Logos, and which, like
the Adam Kadmon of the Cabbalists, is the first medium
through which all things flow from God, he represents as
proceeding, without being separated from the divine na-
ture. Matter is conceived by Tatian to have been the pro-
duction of the Logos, sent forth from his bosom. And the
mind of man is, according to him, reason produced from
a rational power, or an essential emanation from the divine
Logos. He distinguishes between the rational mind and
the animal' soul, as the Alexandrian philosophers between
nig and -i^ix^, and the Cabbalists between Zelem and Ne-
phesh. The world he supposed to be animated by a sub-
qrdinate spirit, of which all the parts of visible nature
partake : and he taught that daemons, clothed in material
vehicles, inhabit the aerial regions ; and that above the
stars, aeons, or higher emanations from the divine nature,
dwell in eternal light. In fine, the sentiments and lan-
guage of Tatian upon these subjects perfectly agree with
those of the ^Egyptian and the Cabbalistic philosophy.
T A T I A N. US
wbetice it may be presumed that hei derived tbemi in a
great measure, fram these sources. After Plato, this Chris«
ttan father maintained the imperfection of matter as tho
cause of evil, and the consequent merit of rising above ail
corporeal appetites and passions ; and it was, probabljTf
owing to this notion, that, with other fathers, he heid tha
superior merit of the sute of celibacy above that of mar«
riage; and that he adopted, as Jerooi relates, the Gnostic
opinion, that Christ bad no real body. The tenor of
Tatian's Apology concurs with what is known of his his*
tory, to prove, that he was a Platonic Christian. His *^ Ora«
tio" was first printed at Zurich in 1546, together with the
Latin version of Conradas Gesner. It was afterwards sub*
joined to Justin Martyr^s works, printed at Paris in 1615
and 1636, folio ; but the best edition of it is that of Ox«
ford, 1700, in i2mo. '
TATISICHEF (Vassili), a modern historian, inr 1720
began to collect materials for a complete history of Russia ;
and continued bis researches without intermission for the
space of thirtiy years. This indefatigable compiler finished
bis account to the reign of Feodor Ivanovitch ; and was
bringing it down to this century, when death put a period
to his labours. Part of this great work was consumed in a
fire ; and the remainder was published after the author's
death by Mr. MuUer. It consists of three large volumes in
quarto. The first contains several curious dissertations re«v
lative to ihe antiquity of the Sclavonian nation ; while the
second and third comprise the history of the Russian empire,
from its earliest origin to 1237.
It can hardly be called a regular history, but is rathet a
connected series of chronicles, whose antiquated Sclavo*
nian dialects are only changed into the Russian idiom ; anjl
the author is justly censured for not regularly citing tbe
various annalists as he abridges or, new models them, and
for not assigning the reasons which induced him to prefer
the writers whose relations he has adopted, to those which
he has rejected. '
. TATIUS (Achilles), an ancient Greek writer of Alex-
andria, is supposed to have lived in the third century, but
this is uncertain. According to Suidas, who calls him
8tatius, be embraced Christianity in the latter part of his
life, and became a bishop. He wrote a book ^* Upon tbe
1 Cave, ro% I.-*-F«bric. BiM. GrtBC^Bmciser. ^ Coxe^ TnTelk in Ituiiim.
iS6 T A T I U S.
Sphere,** ^ which seems to have been nothing more than «
commentary upon Aratus. Part of it is extant, and has
been translated into Latin by father Petavius, tinder the
title of ^* Isagoge in pheenomena Arati." He wrote alio s
romance, probably from its licentiousness when he was a
beatben, entitled, ^* Of the Loves of Clitopbon and Len^
cippe,*' in eight books, which were first published iky
Latin only, at Basil, 1554. This Latin rersion, made by
Annibal Cruceius of Milan, was repubtisbed by. Comme-^
IiJius, with the Greek, at Heidelberg, 1608, 8vo, with Lon-i'
gm and Parthenigs, writers of the same class : aftet whieh^
a more correct edition of the Greek was given by Salota*
•fus at Leyden, 1640, in l2mo, with Cruceius's version*
The best edition is that of Boden, Gr. and Lat. Leipsic,"^
1776, 8vo.*
TAUBMAN (Frederic), an eminent German critic, was
bom at Wonscisch in Franconia, about 1565. His father,
who was a tradesman of the lower order, died while Taub«'
man was a child, and his mother married a taylor,' who,
however, had sense enough to discern the boy's capacity,
uid resolved to bring him up to letters. For that purpose
besenthim to/CnImbtfch, a town of Franconia, to school,
where he remained until be was sixteen years of age, and '
snade aq uncommon progress in literature. The circum*
Btances of his parents, however, were so very indifferent,
that they were unable to funiish him with much, and it is
aaid that'he was frequently constrained to beg his bread
from door to door. While he was ait this school his mothet*
died, and his father-in-law married another wife, who
^ proved very kind to one now become an orphan iu every
way.
In 1582, George- Frederic, marquis of Brandenburg,
baving founded a college at Heilbrun, a town of Suabia,
collected the promising youth out of all his states, and
Taubmao among the rest, whose great capacity recom-
ynended him to public notice ; and who, besides his skill
in the Xatin and Greek authors, had acquired much fame
by bis poetry. After staying ten years at Heilbrun, he
went in 1592 to Wittemberg, whefe he soon distinguished
himself; and Frederic William, the prince of Saxony, con-
caved so high an esteem for him, as often to admit him
into his company. The professorship of poetry and the
! VotBiuf de Soieat. Math.— rubric. Bibl. Qmc^Mo^n^m HiA. MaUi. '
T A U B M A N. i5T
beiles UUres becoming vacant in 15^5^ the university asked
it of the court for Taubimn, who accordingly took pofr*
session of it in October that year, and held it, with great
honour to himself, and advantage to the public, as long as
he lived. He died of a fever in 1613, leaving five children
ai^d a wife, whom he had married in 1596. He was ono
of' those few happy men who had qualities to make himself
beloved as well as admired. His very great learning pro«
c^red him the adoiiration of mankind ; and the liveliness
of bis disposition, and many private virtues, secured to
bki^ tbeir esteejn and affection.
. . His works are, I. *^ Commentarius in Plautum, Francof*
1605 ;" and in 1612, not only enlarged, but more correct*
A third edition, with additions, by Janus Gruterus, was
published after his death in 1622. In these editions, which
ace all in quarto, Taubman has greatly contributed towards
the restoration of the tri^e text of Plautus. Joseph Scaliger
complimented Taubman upon his Commentary on Plauti^s ;
and tells him, that it has all the marks of penetration,
judgmi^ut, and industry. The learned have since ever con*
sidered it in tilis light ; and many consider the second and
third editions, not,withstanding the labours of any later cri*
tic, as the best we still have of Plautus. After his death
was published, by his son, bis 2. '^ Commentarius in Vir*
gilium ;^' which Tanaquil Faber scruples not, in one of his
letters, . to call the best commentary we have upon Virgil ;
but this is not the general opinion. 3. '^ De lingu^ Latini
dissert^tio,^' published by biipself at Wittemburg in 1602.
He ^Isp published other small pieces, and some Latin
poetry. , Taubmanniana came out at Leipsic in 1 703 :
Taubman had a great turn for raillery, but whether any of
bis genuine witticisms can be found in this collection mjay
reasonably admit of a doubt. ^
TAULERUS (John), a writer famous among the mysti*
cal devotees, flourished in the fourteenth <?Qntury, \y''e
have no certain account of the year or place of his birth*.
He was born in Germany, and bepame a monk of the Do^
minican order, and acquired great skill in philospphy ^nd «
sqbooUdivinity ; but he applied himself pvincipally to myisr^.
tical divinity ; and as it was believed that h^ was , favoufed .
with revelations from heaveo, he was styled the illu,xniwiU4^c
dMoinei He had great talents for preachings and there %^,
i$i T A U L E R U S.
ibo preacher in that age more followed than he. He re-
proved with great zeal and great freedom the. faults of
every body; and this made him odious to some monka^
whose persecutions of him he bore patiently. He sub*
mitted with the aame resolution to other trials, and it was
thought that he was thus visited by God, that he might
not grow proud of the extraordinary gifts which he bad
received from heaven. The two principal cities in which
he preached, were Cologne and Strasburg. He died in
the latter after a long sickness, May 17, 1361, and , was
honourably interred there in the academical college, near
the winter-nuditory. He wrote several books ; concerning
which different judgments have been formed; somecatho*
lies have censured them, and some protestants have com^
mended them. Among the latter, we may mention our
Dr. Henry More, who exceedingly admired Taulerus^s
work entitled << Tbeologia Germanica,^* which Luther also
praises. This was first translated from the German into
Latin by Surius, and then by Sebastian Castalio, and went
through a great many editions from 1518 to 1700, when it
was printed in French at Amsterdam. ^
TAURUS (Calvisius), of Beryta, who flourished under
the reign of Antoninus Pius, is mentioned as a Platonist of
some note. Among his, pupils was Aulus Gellius, who has
preserved several specimens of his preceptor's method of
philosophising. He examined all sects, but preferred the
Platonic : in which he had at least the merit' of . avoiding
the infection of that spirit of confusion, which at this pe-
riod seized almost the whole body of the philosophers,
especially those of the Platonic school. In a work which
he wrote concerning the differences in opinion among die
Platonists, Aristotelians, and Stoics, he strenuously apposed
the attempts of the Alexandrian philosophers, and others,
to combine the tenets of these sects into one system. He
wrote several pieces, chiefly to illustrate the Platonic phi-
losophy. He lived at Athens, and taught, not in the
schools, but at bis table. A. Gellius, who was frequently
one of his guests, give^ the following account, in his << Noc-
. tes Atticse," of the manner in which they were conducted:
*^ Taurus, the philosopher, commonly invited a select num^
her of his friends to a frugal supper, consisting of lentils,
an4 a gourd, cut into small pieces upon an «arthen dish;
> Gen, Dict**Biof . Brit, art, M9r6,«*JPfehcri Thsatrvm;
TAURUS, IS9
and during the repast, philosophical conversation, upon ra**
rious topics, was introduced. His constant disciples, f^hom
h6 called his family, were expected to contribute their
fthare towards the small expence which attended these
simple, repasts, in which interesting conversation supplied
the place of luxurious provii^ion. Every one came fur^
nrshed with some new subject of inquiry, which he was
allowed in his turn to propose, and which, during a limited .
time, was debated. The subjects of discussion, ifi the^
conversations, were noft of the more serious and important
kind, but such elegant questions as might afford an agreed-
able exercise of the faculties in the moments of convivial
enjoyment; and these Taurus afterwards frequently iltas*
trated more at large with sound erudition.** ^
TAVERNER (Richard), a pious layman of the reigna
of Henry VI IL Edward, Mary, and ElistiJ^eth, descended
from an ancient faitiily in Norfolk, and, was the eldest son
of John Taverner of Brisley, where he was born in "^1505.
He is said to have studied logic for some time in Oorpua
Cbristi college, Cambridge, and, if so, must have been
contemporary with archbishop Parker. He afterwards re«-
moved to Oxford, and was one of the learned scholars in-
vited by cardinal Wolsey to his nev college there. Wood
informs us that he took the degree of A.B. on May 21,
1527, and that of A.M. in 1530, having been made oner of
the junior canons the yea¥ before. Having thus acquired
ii competent knowledge in the sciences and learned lan-
guages, he studied law in the Inner Temple. In 1534 he
was introduced to court, and being taken into the service
©f sir Thomas Cromwell, principal secretary of «tate, he
was recommended by him to the king for one of the clerks
of the signet tn 1537, which place he held until the reign
of queen Mary, notwithstanding his commitment to the
Tower about four years after for ** slandering the ladic
Anne of Cleve," or rather on account of his being deemed
one of the gospellers^ as they were termed, of his college.
He certainly was a friend to the reformation, and in order
to promote it undertook a new translation or edition of the
English bible, " recognized with great diligence after most
faithful examples," Lond. 1539, fol. It was dedicated to
the king, and allowed to be read in churches. But in 1543,
his patron^ lord Cromwell, being then dead, the popish
1 A«in6eH»^Nl»ot.Atlic9.— BruGker.
r '
160 T A y E R N B R.
bishops caused the priatefs to be imprisonedl and punished f
and the edilor hhtoself also was oomaniited to the Tower*
Here however be acqailled himself so well^ that he was not
only soon after released, but restored again to the king's
iarour, and chosen a member of parKameat in 1 545. Bale
calls TaTeraer's edition of the Bible^ ** Saerornai Bibliorom
recognition sen pottos versio nora;" bst it is neither » bare
revisal of the preceding editions, nor a new version, but
between both. It is a correction of what is called Mat«
thewe's Bible ; many of vi4»ose marginal notes are adqptedy
and many omitted, and others inserted by the editor. Arch-*
bishop Newcome thinks it probable that Tavenier's patron^
Cromwell, encouraged him to undertake this work, on ao^
count of his skill in tiie Greek toi^e ; bot it is miwe pro*^
bable that he was principally induced to it by the printers,
as we learn frcnn a passage in the dedication, in which, aftev^
telling the king that a correct or faultless translation of the
Bible must be the production of many learned men, and of
much tio>e and leisure, he adds ; ** but forasmuch a$ the
printers Were very desirous to have the Bible rome forth as *
faultless and emendately as the shortness of the time iwt
the recognising .of the same would require, tbey desirsd
him, for default of a better learned, diligently to overlook -
and peruse the whole copy, and, in case be should find any
notable default that needed correction, to amend the
saaae, &c"
/ On the accession of king Edward, Taverner, although a
layman, had a special licence in 1 552 to preach through*
out the king's dominions. Good preaching was at that
time ao rery scarce, that not only the king's chaplains were
obliged to make circuits round the country to instruct the
peoploy aad to fortify them agiiinst popery, but even lay^
men, who waKT scholars, were employed for that purpose.
From this however he was obliged to desist when queen
Mary came to the\brone, and therefore retired to Norbiton
hall, near Kingston in Surry, where he lived quietly du«
ring the whole of her reign. As soon as Elisabeth became
Jueeog to whom he presented a congratulatory epistle in
■akin upoa that happy occasion, he resumed his preaching
in Oxford and elsewhere. Her majesty had a high respect
for him, and besides ofiering him knighthood (which Tan«
ner jthioks he aeeepted), put him into the commissioa oi
the peace for the county of Oxford. Here numerous con*
cams were intrusted to biai| and in 1569^ he was made bigii
•f
T A V E R N E K. i^i.
\
•iveriff of A^comtty. Hm »m1 was mHI nmrn agftiiiU fio*-
pery, profattUy «MriD);r to tfae frtghtfitl «ifc<cts of popish bi**
Ig^ty wbicfa fa^ bad witnetaed in Mary^s rekgfi, a^id not-
witbstaiMliiDg fais tiew office, be contkitied his preachirig.
Ev^m white bigb dieriff, iie afsfieaied in St. Mary's piiipit,
wirb ills goU cfaata about bis mcckf and bis aanoixl by bis
tidti, and is AAid ta have' b^«» oine of bis seraions w tbe
Mii^wing saardfi : *^ ^jrivHig aut tfae b»04Mi4 ef St« Mary's, it
the fet«M»y stage * wbefie I now aland, I have brought yoa
'9mae ^ne biakaiis, ibakod in the ai^n of eiiarity, ai^d oare^
fiiHy coajKuved fit tiie chockens of thefobureb, tke sparroifB
of 4be apim, and die sweet swaliows of aalvailion.*' This
atyle was nraab ^adaaired in 4iis daya aveii <by the generaiky
of the aeboiam, and indeed soch alUtertttion wtm long after-
wards a favonriDe both with speakers rand bearers, lie also
eodeavottned io promote tbe reforoMitioQ by bis wrttiaga
aod translatioos ; of which, besides bis BiUe, we *hai^e the
follow4f»g iist : 1. *< The saan and ptdi lof cc PsttlaiS of Da^
Tid, reduced into a form of fnrayers and mediiatiiNHiSy wMn
certain other godly orisons,'* Lond. IM^, ^q. g. ^ Tbb-
£f»stles BiaA Goapek, with a brief pcatiU apsm ibe«aaie,
froas- Adi^m to Low 'Suti'day ; and from £aster«o Adrent,"
Lo^d. 1 540, two parts, 4to. 3« ^< Fmtit lof Faiife, con*ain>»
ing all the prayers of the pa^riarchs^ he, iii. the Old -and
New Tesianent," ibid, 1562, 12nio. 4. ^< Tbe Garden ef
Wysdoflie, &c. containing the sayings of prinoea^ pbdoso*
pbera, 4ic.'' XS^j 2 books. 5. ^* F4ores aliqwot sentential
ruoi ex vartis aeriptoril>tts," transited foots Srasmtis. S,
<* CtttoOis Diistieha MomliSi," Lond. 15&a,.d9o, 1555» 4fto.
7. «<io MhiMikn F^btianum lib. 1," li^. 6. '' €ateei|t»*
mud 6dei." 9. ^* Provei4>s «r adagies gatheaad 'Oai of the
Chitiadcs of Crasaaus,'' \54S. Uis tfwisbtie«8. wese,
^ Gresteie's Pra3/«i« on thefsalim ;" ^vCkiiiiesston el -the
Gerpaaos, with the apology of Melaoethon^'* ukil^ aosiM
tracts from Erasroiak ^
In tbe latter part of his life, Taaerner lived at a seaH bo
bad built at Woodeatoa in OKfordsfdre, snbeace he daaes a
letter to itrchbishop Parker in J46£« excuainghianseif ^tn
lending the queen 100/., from inability. «t that time* He
died lit tbta piace^ July 14^ IS76, in the seventieth yetar
of his age, »nd was boried in tbe cbeiioal of thieoiiitrch
with great solemnity. He married two wiYes^ Margaret
• St. Mary'g puTpft wM tht n ^t tC^tfe.
Vol. XXIX. M
16« TAVERNER.
the daughter of Walter Laonbert, esq. ; aoil after her de«
cease, Mary, the daogbter of nr John Harcpurt, and bad
issue by both. Ward gives some account of bis fomily and
descendants in bis ^* Lives of the Gresbam Professora.*' ^
TAVERNIER (John Baptist), a Frenchman, fan^otis
for his travels, was born at Pads in 1605. His father,. who
was a native of Antwerp, settled at Paris^ and traded very
largely in geographical maps, so that the natural incltna^
lion which Tavern ier had for travelling was greatly in»
creased, by the conversations which daily passed in hia fa-
th^r^s house, concerning foreign countries. He began to
gratify bis passion so early, that, at the age of two and
twenty years, he had seen the finest countries of Europe^
France, England, the Low Countries, Germany, Switaech
land, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. During tlh^ space of
fwrty years he travelled six times into Turkey, Persia, and
the East Indies, and by all the different routes he codd
take. In the course of these peregrinations, he gained a
great estate by trading in jewels ; and, being ennobled by
Louis XIV. purchased the barony of Aubonine, near the
lake of Geneva, in 1668. He bad collected a great uuaDM>
ber of observations, but be had nut learned either to speak
or write well in French ; for which reason he was forced
to employ others in drawing up his relations. M. Chap*
paseau, with whom he lodged at Geneva, lent htm bis pen
for the two first volumes of his travels ; and M. Cbspeile
for the third. They have frequently been printed, an4
eontain several curious particulars; yet not without some
fables, which were told him purely to impose upon hts
simplicity. . He is charged also with stealing fromothc^rs
to fill, up bis own accounts : thus Dr. Hyde, having cited »
irery long passage from Tavernier, tells us thai) <^he bad
taken it like a downright plagiary from a book printed at
Lyons, 1671, in 8vo, and written by father Gabriel de Chftt
Aon, who had lived in Persia thirty years."
■» Tasemier's aflairs became embarrassed at theJatteriBiid
of 'bis life; by reason of the miamanageinent and ill con4
dwct Jof^a nephew, who had in the Levant the direeuoU'Ol^
a cargo purchased in France for 222,000 livpes, stnd. wbjob
should- have pmdaced above a- milK^n. Tavevniervjtbeyii^
fiDre under«cM>k a seventh jouruey lalo the Eaat, to reet^/
» Ath Oxvol. I.-— Ma ters'sHisl.of C.G.C.C.— W«rd'8Grash»niFrof€sior». .
--N«wcombe'f English Biblical TrgmUtionJk
taver;N1|:k. les
ibis disorder ; for wbic^ purp<^e he saki^bis \fm^fmyjd.^*f
bonne in 1687 to the otar^^uis Dn Que«ne, bu^bn^i^^oa
bis mjr^ at Moscovir^io Juiy 16^^ aged^igbty-foufj eafiSi.
He was of tbe Protestaiiit religfOR^ Several pariie^^ acoxirog
wbicb %vere tbe JDutcb and tW.Jct^i^its, were ofFeiKkid at
oertaun things ins^erted in, his travel^i, and be has basin
abii$ed in . print oa.tbat accotuit. He has one chapiar
wfaere he cofisiclers tbe conduatfof tbe Hollanders inAa^a;
and is. very severe upon tbe directors of their East India
company^ by wbooi he represents bimself to have sMflFeeed :
but iie declares at tbe beginning that be does nut blame
tbe conduct of tbe.Dutcb in general. The firj^t editioaof
tiia^* Travels" was printed at Pari*, 1$76 — 79, 3 vols. 4to»
That fnostcoaunon is in 6 vols. 42mo. ^
TAYLOR (Brook), a celebrated philosopher. and ma*
tbematician, was born^ at Edmonton in Middlesex, Aug.
2Bf 1685. His grandfatberi Nathaniel Taylor* was one-of
Cfae Puritans whom . Cromwell elected by letter, June l^^
1653^ to represent tbe county of Bedford in*. parliament.
His father^ John Taylor, .esq. of Bifron^i in Kent, U said to
have stiH retained some of the austerity of tbe puritanic
eharacter, but was sensible of the power of rnQsic ; in con*
sequence of which, bis son Brook studied that science
early, and became a proficient in it, as he did also in draw*
ing. He studied the classics and mathematics with a prif»
vate tuibr at home, and made so successful a progress, that
At fifteen be was thought to be qualified for the miiversity.
in 1701 be went to St. John's college, Cambridge,, in tbe
rank:of a fellow-commoner, and immediately appHed him*
telf ^itfa z^eal to the study of mathematical science, which
alone could gain distinction there. *It was not long, before
be became/an author in that science, for, in 17ds^be wrote
bis i* Treatise on the Centre of Oscillation/' though it:;was
not published till it appeared some ye^rs after jn tt^et Phi^
losopbical Transactions. In 1709,, he took thi^dc^^eaif
baefaeior of :kwB ;;. aiid about tim same time ^ommeafied a
eorcespondence with professor I^eil, ou^M^jepifs gjEiltJieinbdm
ld)!>ti^se mathematical dii^qnisition. An i74Sih]ei\wsie>leel]ed
into the Royal Society, to which. i«) tbsit {yeaiiibfi.«pre$,eRted
tbree papers,, one, ^f On the. Ascent of: Wiater, be44f\reea tmo
Qiass Planes.'' 2.. '* Oa -the C^»tve of OsiclMation.!' *•
** On tbe Motion of a stretched String." He presented
» Mor<fl^f.M&ifct Hist.' ' .■''*-■'
■*/ * '><-
M 2
IM *r A Y L O lU
«bo, in If 'll| A ^ftp^r on hti fiiiioiirlte science of tmittt^
hnt thhj though mentioned in fak correspondettce with
Kei), does not appear in the Transa<:tion8.
His distinguished abilities as a mathematician bad notr
reoomiftiended him particularly to the esteem of the Royal
Society, who, in 1714, elected tiiin to the office of secre-
taty* In the tame year, he took the degree of doctor of
iaw9) at Cambridge. In iliS, he published his *< Methoo
ivm incrementorufn/' and a curious essay in the Philoso*
(ihtcid Transactions, entitled, ** An Account of an Experi^
«ient for the Discovery of the Laws of Magnetic Attract
- tiot) ;^* and, besides these, his celebrated work ou perspec-
tive, entitled ** New Principles of Linear Perspective : or
the art of designing, on a plane, the representations of all
sorts of objects, in a more general and simple method than
has hitherto been done.^^ This work has gone through se-
veral editions, and received some improvements f^om Mi*.
Colson, Lucasilin professor ftt Cambridge. In the same
year Taylor conducted a controversy, in a coi^respondence
with Raymond count de Montmort, respecting the tenets
of Malbranche, which occasioned him to be noticed aftet*-
wards in the eulogium pronounced t)n thftt celebrated ltn(^<-
tapbysiciimv In 1716, by invitation frott several learned
fAen, to whom his merits were well known, t>r, Taylor
i^sited Paris, >her^ he was received with every tiaark of
inspect and distinction. Early in 1 7 17, he returned to Lou-
don, «t}d composed three treatises, which are in the tbir-
tietb volume of the. Philosophical Transactions. Bui: bis
Jiealth having been impaired hy intense application, he w?i8
now advised to go to AiX'-la-chapelle, and resigned his
office of secretary to the Royal Society. After his return
1o £figl«Bd in 1719, it appears that be applied bis mind to
iHidiesof a religious nature, the result of which were found
tnsome dlssersaftions preserved among his papers^ '^On
Ibe Jewish Sacrifices," t&c. He did not, howevet, neglect
hiaifbrmer pursuits, but amused himself with drawings im«-
proiFed his treatise on linear perspective, and wrote a de-
Csmeeof it against the attacks of J. Bernouilli, in a paper
HfHkk appears in the thirtieth vohime of the Philosophical
Transactional^ Bernouilli objected to the work as too ab**-
a^rusej and denied the author the merit of inventing liis syn-
tern* It is indeed acknowledged, that though Dr. B. 'f'ay-
-rior I'discov^red it for himself, he was not the ficst who ha4
-moiitim^sme path, as it had been.4we,^x.G!wi^ ybaJ^'t
I /
TAYLOR. l$f
I
in % beok ^n peiff^aeliTt, published at P^s^ra i^ 16Q0« Tini
abftvusi^ness of his wofk has been pbviatec} by atu>tber an^
^hof, in a work #ntHi#4> ^* Dr« Brook Taylor's inethod of
f^npwnver made eaay, bpib in iheory and practice, {^c/
by Joshua Kirby, painter '^ and this publication ha« c^aa*
.tinged to be the roaniia) both of artists and dilettanti. To^.
ward) the end of 17^0, I>r, Taylor visited lord Bolingbroke,
naar Orleans, bul retqrnpd the next year, and published
bis last paper in the Pbilosopbical Transactions, which d^
scribed, '^ An Evperim^u Q>ade to ascertain the Proport
%iw of Estpansion in tb0 TberoKkaieter, with regard to thff
l>egree of Heat."
Dr. Brook Taylor was twief married, and both tinses s0
unfortanate as to losa bi^ wife after a very short period.
The first lady was a Miss fridges, of Walliogtw in Surry,
to whom he was united in 1 72 1. Aa this lady, though ef a
good family, bad little fortune, bis marriage with bev
eecasioned a rupi;ure with his father, whi^b lasted till aftet
the birth of a son, who unhappily did not long surmt.
'Be became a widower in 1723. The two following^ yean
he resided with his father at ^ifront ; and, in 1795^ formed
a new marriage with the daughter of John Sawbridge, esqi^
ofOlantigbtn Kent. In 1799, he succeeded to his £a-r
tber*s estate at Bifrons^ but in the following year had ibe
misfortune to lose hia second wife in ebtld*bed; ablevv
which, in the impained state of his bealtb, he was unable te
sustain* His remaining days were days of imbecUity an4
sorrow, and be anrvived little meve than a year- On ib«
'*29th of December, 1731, he died of a dediBe, in the
ferty-siatb year of hia ajge, and waa buried at ^/Anne'Sj
in the interval between 1721 a^d bi$ deaiib, be ibppeiil .
te^ haw been in part disabled by ill healthy and in pari 49^
verted by otber objects from severe piudy. ** A Treatiat
on Ldgaittfonbs," addreaaed to bi# friend lerd Pauley, ajSieck
aterda lord Abercom, ii almoat tlie only frui^ of ibi« labni^r
Which has been Scfmi to beiof^g to that period ) And tbia
baa never been publiabed. Aftei ^e Idsa ^^f bil^ nwim^
We, he aeema tobave endeavcKnred to diver|.bis,eij^4 by
study^; and an essay, entitled ^* Conlemptatio Pbilosopbiiais''
pkinted^ but net publmbed, by bb grandaaiiiy air WillMMi
Voung, in 11»%9 wajs pirobaWy wfiweft m^tifnt^f and lor
this piit-pose. It was the effort of a strong mind, and affords
a most remarkaMe^ escampte of tb^ close t^eel^heilaaalMh^
U6 T A Y L O H.
tnati«iatiy applied to metaphysics. ^ Tbe^€fibrty' h<»rrref, wts
Tain, and equally vain were tb^ eartiest endeavourt of bis
friendsi to amtise and comfort him by sdcial gratificatioiib.
Dr* Taylor is proved, by his writings to have bean afinisblMl
scholar, and a profound mathematteian : h^ is recorded to
have been no less a polished gentlemaD, and a' sound and
serious Christian. It is sald'of him, that *^ he inspired pitT-
tiality on his first address ; be gained'itnpercepcibljrcm ae-
quaintance ; and the favourable impressions whitb be^ma4e
from genius and accomplishments^ be fixed in farther in-
timacy, by the fundamental qualities of benevolence Md
integrity.** His skill in drawing is also commended in ^le
highest terms. ** He drew figures,*' says his biographiM'y
^^ with extraordinary precision and beauty of pencil; band-
scape was yet his favourite branch of design. His origiflial
landsc^apes are mostly painted in water-colours, but wkb'dl
<tbe richness and strength- of oils. They have a force of
colour, a freedom of touch, a varied dispbsitten of planes
of distance, and a learned use of aerial as welt as linear
perspective, which all professional men who have seen these
paintings have admired*. Some pieces are compositioiitf;
some are drawn from nature : and the general cbaracteris-
tic of their effect may be exemplified, by sopposii^ - tBe
bold fore-grounds of Sal vator Rosa to be bached by the
succession' of distances, and mellowed by* the saber bar-
mony which distinguishes the productions of Gaspar Pouii^
sin. The small figures, interspersed in the tatidscapes,
wpuld not have disgraced the pencil of the correct ^and dstf*
•sic Nicolas.*' • ^- :. *
• The daughter of Dr. Brook Taylor, by bis second wife,
survived him ; and it is to her son, sir William Yoivng,
that the public is indebted for the account of that emi«
nent man, from which the present narrative bas been drawn
up. * « L t , :
* TAYLOR (Jeremy), a very learned and celebrated pre-
late, the son of Nathaniel and Mary Taylor, was bom:(ti
t*H^ pttrtA of the Holy Trinity in Cambridge, where bis
father was in the humble station of a barber : and was bnp^
iise**Ail^r P5,- 1613: He was educated' from the age of'
•tb^^ee'^tb that of thirteeti at Perseus free^scheo}^ in Caitf-
bi^d'gei aiidihen entered a sizer of^Oaius-eollegCv^n Ai^^-
gUbt 1^26; tinder Mr/ Bacbcrofl. ' In tbis society be took
:.ii»^n> iij^ pf^e4,M»*^ ^'Jf^^f!V^^J^^^l^^i& -^-^ -^-r-
Taylor: i«7
bis degree of feaiehelor in 1631, ani) bi«hap JUisl: »«)?% ib^t
^as soon eg be wa» graduate, be wa& chosen fellow. Tbe
improvement which be made in bis infancy was now foi^.
lowed lip wilb increasing assiduity ; and to sucb an extent
bad be- carried his theological studies, as to be tbougfat
worthy of admission, like Usbel*, into holy orders befoiie
be bad attained the age of twenty-one. About tbe same
iime be took bis degree of master of arts, and removed to
^Xondon, where, being requested by bis obamber-feUow,
Mr. Rbden, to supply his turn, for a short time^, at the
Jectnrein 8u FmuVs cathedral, bis talents attracted. tbe at-
. tention of arebbisbop Laud, wbo prefeired bim to a fellow*
,«bip at All Souls college, Oxford, <^ where be might ban^
tiflie> books, and company, to complete himself in those
aeveral parts of learning into* which be bad made so fair
nn entrance." Into this fellowship be was admitted in
.January 1636 ; but, as Wood remarks, k was an arbitral^
ao^ contrary to tbe statutes.
^ About this time also be was appointed chaplain in ordi-
nary to tbe^ king) having already been made chaplain to
archbishop Laud ; and in March 16S8, be was instituted to
tboi rectory of Uppingham, in the county of Rutland, by
Francis Dee, bbhop of Pet^borougb, on tbe presentation
of William Juicon, bishop of London. He bad no soon^
yeoei^v«d institution into this preferment than be commenoed
Usohai^ over it, and continued to reside at Uppingham
.until 1642. In May 1639 be was married in tbe church of
iJiat town to Pbosbe Landisdale, or Langsdale, a lady of
whose family little is known, unless that she had a brothejT
of tbe medioal professimi, a Dr. Langsdale of Gainsbo*
fOugU By her Mr. Taylor bad four sons and three daugb^
ters. Of the exemplary manner in which be administered
tbe spiritual oooeerns of his parish, a fair ^oncluision may
be drawn, both from his ardent piety, and from the way
iD which be himself speaks of bis expert^ce- in the conduct
of souls. He was Ao less attentive and. useful in n^anaging
theaecular affairs of bis parish, of which many proofs e«ist
in its records. * • > • - . . ^
The tranquillity )of bia life here wassobn disturbed bjr
4be progress of that commotion ^,bieh finally aiif^ompUahfd
tbe destruotlon of tbe monarchical and episcopal govern-
ments. As yet he bad appeared as an author ^oKdyiiiia
'^ Sermon on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Treason,^*
{irinted at Osfift'd' id i 639^ but had ti^w inore. urgent
f9 T A Y L O B.
fMasioii to ttnploy bb peii» wbile airg«Mpl<aeiM4 to p«^
mise any etfect, in defence of tbe cbnrch. Wkb thta view
be proiittceti in 1642, bis <' £pis«op8cy aticrted," wbicb'
WM {Hiblisbed at Oxford by the king't (ioiiioi»nd| and ran
in course wiib tbe vrorka of bishop Hall and otbera on .tbe
•aiBe subject. This ia dedicated to bis friend and petroo,
sir (^briiitopber Hattoo, afterwards lord Hatton of Kirby^
whose son be afterwards assisted io preparing am editioii
of tbe Psalms, according to tbe authorized version* This
appeared in 1 644, aitd was entitled ^' Tbe Psalter of Da*
vid, with Titles and Collecu according to the matter of
each P&alm, by tbe r^t beo. Christopher HaAton." His
biographer says, that ^^ all that ia new in tbia publicalioo
was the production of Taylor. The preface, wbtoh bearp
hit neoie, and the titles and collects adapted to each pseUiSy
were tbe efforts of his oiind.^' This was a very popular
w«rk daring tbe whole of the seicenteenth century ^ but in
tbe tenth edition, now before u% Lond. 168S, botii Het*
ton^s and Taylor's names are omitted from tbe title and
preface, yet it appears even then to have been sold by the
eame c^ ^^ Hatton's Psalms,'' as tbe Uader has so titled it
lHQ tho back.
Jn August 1 642, wbea tbe king went to Oxford, Taylor
was ealled upon to attend him. in bis capacity of cbaplaiot
Md was there honoured with a doctor's degree^ but pro*
bably lost bis living, as after tbis time there is no trace of
tiiaa 9^ Uppingham ; yet though it was sequestered^ it doet
iM>t appear that be relinquid^ bis olaMa to it, oer, in
l^int of fact, does any rector occur between his departim
and tbe year t66l, when John Allingtoo aigos himself as
such. Being one of tbe king's retinue. Dr. Taylor probe*
biy aeeoaapanied tbe arasy, but there are no distinct par«>
tieulars of his progress at this unfortunate period, and it ia
prebaMe that be vetircxl into Wales, cstben in the semmer
of 1645, or the spring of the following yeiar. We ca%
however, more certainly trace his pen in the controvec^ies
jof tbetimeis. When the asseaably of divines at WeaifBtn<-
ster published their ^< Directory," which abolished the
wsual forms of prayer, Dr« Taylor published *^ A Discourse
eeneermng Prayer eitca»pQ(re, or by prelenoe of tbe Spirit^
in justification of authorbed and set forms of iJtiirgie^^^
This was {NEioted. in 1646, bwt without the place beseg
fpeeafted« it 'bad b^en preceded, probably about 1644,
t|{ith*^^Akrep6Jbgy for attthouaed and setfoBoa of Liturgy.^
T=A"Y Lt> R. Aft
agptinst the. {>n0tM0e of tbe Spirit/* Tbeyr iWm;« '9e^y
able defence of liturgy.
While in Wales^ be was obliged to maintain huMelf #nd
family by keepings school, at Newtani in Caraiartbett9btf^
wbere be was assisted by Mr. Williaoi Wyatt of Sl« Jobo*<i
(^oHege, Oxfcud, and tbey jointly produced, in 1647, ^^A
i^ew and easie instimtioa of Grammar/' London, l2m(H
This seance little Kolame has two- dedieattons, one in Latin
to lord Hatton by Wyatt, the other in English, by Taylor,
addressed to lord Hatcon's son* The eminenoe of On
Taylor's learning, and the integrity of bis principles pro-*
fiured him sebolars, who^ as bisbiopapber says, ^< baving^
as it were, received instsuction from this prophet in. the
wilderness, were transplanted to tbe universities.** He
loiiAd also a generous patron in Richard Vaugbafti, .ea#I o^
Carbery, who resided at Golden Grove^ the seat 'of his
ancestors, in the parish of Lianfibangel Abefbythiek, Mar
LbtfdiilQ Ifawr, in Carmarthenshire. Into this faospitabte
faj»ily be was received as chaplain, iaad had a stipend
allotted bim, as he himself intimates in bis dedication to
lord Carbery, prefixed to bis '^ Course of Sermons.*' It
would appear that persecution bad followed him iQt4^
Wales, before he obtained bis present comfortable asyKim,
but in what manner or to what extent is not koown^
The i|rst production of the quiet be now enjoyed, was
bis ^^ Liberty of Propbecying,*' 1647, 4to, lyritten in be*
half of the clergy of tbe church of England, wbo were aoiw
genei«lly excluded from their benefices, and f<Mrbidden to
minister according to her liturgy. This was republished
in 1650, along with his preceding works, and with the ad^-
dition of the '< Life of Christ/' in 2 vols. 8vo. Of his
^ liibeny of Propheoyrng,'* bis biographer nemarks that
tl^re are few writings in which learning and sBodestyy
charity and argument, are more happily blendec) *. His
* Tl)t8 work, however, did DOt escape transcribed. ^Mn tbe wrttisg of tb%
insure. In it he was supposed to lay book, Or. Taylor made use of a like
«lswtt socAi principles, as struck at the atratagem as Hales did th writing his
faundatioii of att hitrarehy ; and or book ^f Sohisn, to break the Presby^
Ihat account gave offence to several terian power, and so countenance (JU*
aMisbers ef the church of England^ " visions between the factions, whick
Willie nsany of its adTenmries thought were tod much VBitei afaiast'theloyll
themselves cooAtenanced by these prin- dieigy. For in the said book he insisti
ei|)lef, and even jn^t^fipd in thnr ho9- on the same topics of schism and
^iKtteaagaiMiit. Woodbasdestfanted bereay, of tne incompetency of couti«-
ttpon this work ; and what he says is cits and fathers, td defermme our eodc^
" " ,ri
V .1
so ewriooSj that it well deservat to b« siasiical cootrarerates, aod of .Mropv-
170 T A Y L O ft.
next production was " The Gfeat Exemplar,'* the purpose
of which he states to be, ^^ to advance the necessity, and
to declare the manner and parts of a good life ; to invite
some persons to ibe consideration of all the branches of it,
by intermixing something of pleasure with the use ; and
others by such portions, as would better etitertain them
than a romance." In 1650 be published one of bis most
popular and standard works, <^ The Hule and Exercises of
Holy Living,*' of which the twenty- eighth edition was
published in 1810. In Oct. 1650, be lost his valuable pa-
troness the countess of Carbery, and delivered a funeral
sermon on that melancholy occasion, which was published
the same year.
Previous to the death of the countess of Carbery, Tay*
lor bad been occupied in writing his ** Rule and Exercises
of Holy Dying," and that part of his volume of *^ Sermons^"
wbieh was preached at Golden Grove, in the summer half-
year. These, with the addition of the funeral sermon
lately delivered, and a ** Discourse of the Divine institn*
tion, necessity, and saiiredness of the office Ministerial,"
be published in 1651. His ** Holy Living" and *< Holy
Dying" have been supposed by tbeir late editor, the rev.
Thomas Thirwall> to have been Dr. Taylor's favourite
works, and tbey are certainly elaborated with more than
bis usual care; and the latter, a^ being occasioned by the
eouniess of Carbery *s illness, comes more from the heart.
His *' Sermons" bave been ably analysed by his biographer,
and are indeed to be recommended to the attention of the
present age, rather in ^he.form of extracts or selections,
than as oYiginally published.
In 1652 Dr. Taylor published *^ A short Cateofoism,
composed for the use of the schools in South Wales^'*
which be afterwards reprinted under the head *^ Credenda^*
lous conscience9 ; and urgetb far more denomioating the action, I see no caoj^
cogent argool^ents than Mr. Hales did, why our author, whose ends w«re for
but slill had prepared hb Sc^oir ^ap* the restoring of peace, seeing he t^
i0MtM, or Antidote to prevent any dan* presented the caMsea of the var.so hi-
gerous effect of bis discourse: for the volous and i neons id erabie, ought to be
judicious reader may perceive such a represented as a criminal or adver!i«
preserve, though it lie in ambuscada, sary." If Mi« fuel be aigh^y aUedgMb
and is compacted in a narrow compass, the excuse certainly, is not v^iUd. la
as may easily rouse those troops, the mean time, Dr. Taylor's book. has
which began too soon to cry victoria, ever been admired i hod those, mko
and thought of nothing else but divid> bave not approved pf mapj^ thiAgs,.^^
ing the spoil. And if the learned au- vanced in it, bave allowed it to abound,
thor (Hales) did this and was blameless, as indeed all his works do, with ^nse,
the goodness of the end jn such ^ases wit, «|id ^pf^hvf^^S^epfmPt** ■ ..I
TAYLOR. 11^1
in his ^<* 6old«n Grove*^' In the same year he consented
to the publication of a ** Discourse on Baptism, it» tnsti-
"tntion, and efficacy upon all believers/' which was only
part of a projected work of a larger description. This wns
followed, in 1653, by another collection of "Twenty-five
Sermons" for the winter season^ making, together iirtth vhe
former, a course of sermons for the whole year. Thetie,
with ten additional, preached after the restoration, were
ipepublished in one volume folio, and before 1678 had gone
through five editions. In 1654, he published ^^ The Real
Pi%&ence and Spiritual of Christ in the blessed sacrament
Tproved against the doctrine of Transubstantialion." . Thff
he dedicated to Warner, bishop of Rochester, with whom be
afterwards engaged in controversy. In 1655, thei short
^eatechism he had published for the youth of Wales, conf-
siderably enlarged, was republished under the title of
" The Guide of Infant Devotion, or the Golden Grove, a
manual of daily prayers and litanies fitted to the days of
the week : containing a short summary of what is to be be-
.lieved, practised, and desired. Also festival by ni as, ac*
cording to the manner of thp ancient church."
In the same year appeared his " Unum necessarium, or
the Doctrine and Practice of Repentance." This, says his
iHOgrapher, led him into the consideration of original sin,
and its effects ; points which were at that time much con-
troverted between the Arminian and Calvinistic parties,
and he adopted the opinion of the former, carrying it to a
degree that -the latter utterly condemned, and which the
ehurch of England does not approve. His sentiments with
.regard to the doctrine of original sin were then, and Bth
tftjMresent, generally considered heterodox ; and are irre-^
conei table to the tenets of our church, as laid down iti
her liturgy, articles, and homilies. It was this, therefore,
which drew him into controversy. His friend, the bishop
of ^ Rbchester, Dr. Warner, shewed his disapprobation of
tbe chapter of original sin, in a letter addressed to Dr.
Taylor, dated July 28, 1656. It was also censured by Dr.
Sanderson, afterwards bishop of Lincoln, and others, to
#faoni be endeavoured to reply in two tracts, the one
** Deus justiiicatus, bra Vindication of the Glory of the
dM^ine attributes,^ &c." and the other <^ A further explica-
tion of the d^dtrioe of original sin, &c."
During some part of this controversy, he was in con*
finement ifi €kepMm ^^vstle, froin a suspicion tbttt he^al
ua TAYLOR
f^POcerned in th# insurrection of th^ royalusu 9X Salitbtiry»
btti appears to have beea released after the autumn of 16 ji$«
when he was at home^ and lost two of his sons by tbe small
poK. After this, in tbe beginning of 1 657, be went to
I^ndoo, baving determined to relinquisb altogetber bii
aituatioii in W Jes ; and oflSciated to a private congrega-
tion of loyalists, but not witbout gre»t danger from tbe
prevailing party. During tbe preceding year, a treatise
appeared whicb bis biographer says is attributed to Du
Taylor by Anthony Wood, and still occupies a place in the
list of bis writings, entitled '*A Discourse of auiciliary.
Beauty, or artificial bandsomenesse* In point of con-
acieikce betweei^ two ladies f* but this appears to be aa
eversigbt, for Anthony Wood attributes this little volume
to Dr. Gauden, and not to Dr. Taylor, and gives 166(2
aa the date, and not I6£^6.
lo 1657 Dr. Taylor collected several of bis smaller pieces,
with ivUaUrnl improvements, into a folio volume, and pub-
lisbed them under the title of ** A collection of Polemical
and Moral Discourses ;^* adding two hitherto unpubli$bed^
a " Discourse on Friendship,'* and ^' Two letters to per-
aons changed in their Religion.'* Tbe former was ad-
dressed to Mrs. Katberine Philips, and is in point of style
and sentiment one of tfie best of Taylor's pieqes, who ia
never more excellent than when on subjects qf moraU.
This volume reached a third edition in 1674, but consists
of sosaewbat diff<erent materials, and 'has a different title»
being now called ^* Symbolum Theologicum, &c.*'
lo this year, 1647, Dr. Taylor was induced by a nefv
friend and patron, lord Conway, to go, over to Ireland,
and reside at Portmore, the mansion of* that nobleman in
^he county of Antrim* Thia situation being adapted to
ftiidy and contemplation, was to him a delightful retreat ;
a^d bere be employed his time in arranging tbe treasure*
with which bis mind was ttored, and in correspondency
with m^ of literature* Here be accomplished the largeat
and i|K>st laborious of bis works, tbe '* Ductor Dubitantium,
or the Kule of Conscience in all her general measures;
lerving as a greai instrument for tbe determination of
(^9pes of conscience," l£60, fol. Of this work it has been
saidf witbout exaggeration, that it is the produ^ioo of re.«
tentive memory and laborious research, of learning variotis
and proGound, and of reaaoniog closa and dispiissionatel
Tbe ikaiaiid Son tbis vork bas lat<^ rieeo f exy coimcler-*
T A T L O It , Its
aWy; and what we can remember holding a very ttiferior,
If any place, in sale catalogues, is noir a prominent article
with a handsome price. ,It is undoubtedly a very interest-
ing work to men that delight in the exercise of tlie reason-
ing power, but its real utility in satisfying scruples of con-
science is, we think, not quite so apparent.
This work was dedicated to Charles II. the restoration
having taken place. Dr. Taylor appears to have left Ire-
land early in the spring of 1660, and arriving at London,
subscribed the declaration of the nobility and gentry that
adhered to the late king in and about that city, and when
the vacant sees came to be filled up, bishop Lesley was
proipoted to that of Meath^ and Dr. Taylor succeeded him
in that of Down and Connor. While yet bishop*elect, and
liefore he left London, he published his book on the sacra-
ment, entitled " The Worthy Communicant, &t.'* Hte
then went over to Ireland^ and was consecrated, and abot^
the same time he was chosen vice-chancellor o( the uuk
terity of Dublin, an office which he held until his death.
On opening the parliament in May t661, he preached be-
fore the members of both houses at St. Patrick's, and hili
sermon was printed at London in 4to. Thi^ same year, 06
the translation of Dr. Robert Lesley to th^ see of Raphotf,
the king, by grant of June 21, committed to the bishop of
Down and Connor, the administration of the see of Dro-
more ; which he held till his death. But it was no desire
of enriching himself that induced the bishop to accept of
this new charge. The dilapidated state of the church and
ecclesiastical property at this juncture clearly evince his
conduct to have been grounded upon a higher principle;
frnd finding not only the spiritual affairs of this diocese ih
disorder, but the choir of the cathedral of Dromore jo
rqins, he undertook to rebuild it, and on this otcasion^is
daughter Joanna preserited the plate for the communion.
JTn the same year he held a visitation at Lisnegarvy ; at
which he issued " Rules and advices to the clergy of his
diobese for their deportment in their personal and publio
capacities," These form a very useful compendium of
ministerial duty^ and have been often recommended by
subsequent prelates.
, Tn th0 ;iutumn of 1661, bishop Taylor, foreseeing a va-
cancy in the deinery^ of Connor, wrote to Cambridge for
fome able person, who might fill that dighity, aric| the pr6-
po$ition,bein|; made to Dr. George Rust, he was preferrcil
IM T A Y L O H.
«8 sooo at Uie ^aeaticy took place (See Rcrsr) ; and thus a
friendship commenced between these two great men,
which continued with mutual warmth and admiration till it
was interrupted by death. Dr. Rust was the survivor, and
succeeded bishop Taylor in the see of Dromore, and
preached his funeral sermon. In 1662*3, bishop Taylor
published '^ Three Sermons" which he had preac^hed at
Christ^s church, Dublin ; ** Eleven Sermons," preached
since the restoration ; and his '^ Discourse on Confirma*?
tion." In July 1663, he preached the funeral sermon of
Dr. John Bramhall, archbishop of Armagh, from whose^
hands he had received confirmation. This was published,
and contains a well-drawn character of the primate* . In
the same year, at the request of the bishops of Ireland, he
published ** A Dissuasive from Popery, addressed to the
people of Ireland." This work went through several edi«
lions, and some answers being published by the popish
party, he wrote a second part of his *^ Dissuasive," which
however, did not appear until after his death. He bad
also began a discourse on the beatitudes, wheniie was at*
tacked by a fever, which proved fatal in ten days^ He
died at Lisbum^ August 13, 1667, and was interred in the
choir of the cathedral' of Dromore. Dr. Rust, as we have
already observed, preached his funeral sermon, and en<»
tered largely into his character. He was indisputably, as
,Dr. Rust represents him, a man of the acutest penetration
and sagacity, the richest and most lively imagination, the
ioiidest judgment, and the profoundest learning. He was.
perfectly versed in all the Greek and Roman writers^ and
was not unacquainted with the refined wits of later ages,
whether French or Italian. His skill was great, both in
civil and canon law, in casuistical divinity, in fathers, and
ecclesiastical writers ancient and modern. He was a man
of the greatest humility and piety : it is believed, says Dr;.
Rust, that he spent the greatest part of his time in heaven,
and that his solemn hours of prayer took up a considerable
portion of his life. He was indeed a great devotee, and
had in him much of natural enthusiasm. Dr. Rust, con^
eludes his character with observing, that " he had the good-«
humour of a gentleman^ the eloquence of an orator, the
fancy of a poet, the acuteness of a schoolman, the pro-,
foundneiis of a philosopher, the wisdom of a chancellor,
the sagacity of a prophet, the reason of an angel, and the
piety of a saint. He had devotion enough for a cloister,
T A ¥ Ii O m IT*
iearauig enough for an university^ and wit enough for n
college of virtuosi;* and bad his parts and endowmenti
been parcelled out among bis. clergy that be left behind
biniy it would, perhaps, have made one of the best dio«
ceses in the ivorld/' Yet amidst the blaze of this pane*
gyric, we must not forget that dispassionate criticism will
assign as bishop Taylor's highest excellence, his powers of
moral suasion. He is always seen to most advantage ag
a moral writer, and his genius is every where, inspired and
invigorated by a love of what is good. Nor roust it^be for-
got that he was one of the reBners of our language. His
biographer bas justly said that ^< English prose was in his
time in a progressive state. It bad been advanced very far
by the genius of Sidney and the wisdom of Hooker ; but
the pedantry of the reign of James bad done much to
eclipse its lustre. In Taylor it broke out from its obscu-*
rity with energy and brightness. His polemical discourses
exhibit a specimen of English composition superior to any
ibat bad gone before.^'
It is not ascertained whether bis wife survived him ; but
it 'is well known that he left three daughters, Pfaoabe^
Joanna, and Mary. The eldest died single ; the second
married Mr. Harrison, a barrister in Ireland, and the
youngest became the wife of Dr. Francis Marsh, afterwards
archbishop of Dublin. In this sketch of bishop Taylor's
life, we have principally followed a recent valuable public
cation, " Tbe Life of the Rt. Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D. D#
&c. By the rev. Henry Kaye Bonney, M.A. of Christ's
college^ Cambridge, prebendary of Lincoln, and rector of
King's Cliffe, in the county of Northampton," 1815, 8vo.^
TAYLOR (John), usually called the Water- Poet, from
bis being a waterman as well as a poet, and certainly more
of the former than the latter, was born in Gloucestershire
about 1580. Wood says he was born in the city of Glou^
.cester, a^id went to school there, but he does not appearto
have learned more than his accidence, as appears, by some
lines pf bis own. From this school he was brought to Lon«
don, and bound apprentice to a waterman, -Mrbenoe be WaiT
either pressed or went voluntarily into the naval service,
fcr he was at the takiftg of Cadiz unrier the earl of Essex,;
in 1^596, when only sixteen years old, and was afterwartls
in Ger^nany, Bohemia, Scotland, as may be collected from
> Life as ab«Te.
/ ;
IW f A V L O «.
^amiii pttfMftges in iii« wtnrkt. At bom6 lie was «Aftfiy ym^
eollectof, for tile lietitenant of the Tower, of the wine^
w'bicfa were hn fee from all ships which 'brought them trp
the Thames ; hot was at last dbtbarged beeause he wouM
not purchase the place at more than it was worth. H6
calls bi09self the <* King's Water Poet/' and the *<Queen*8
Waterman,*' and wore ^e badge of the royal arms. White
a waterman, he very natural iy had a great hatred to coaches,
and besides writing a satire agstnst thetn, he fancied that
the watermen were starring for want of employment, and
presented' a petition to James I. which was i^erred to cer-^
tain commissioners, of whom sir Francis Bacon was one, to
obtain aprohfibttion of all phiy^houses except those on the!
Bank-aide, that the gt^ater pattof the inhabitants of Ion-
don, who were desirous of seeing plays, might be com-
pelled to go by water. Taylor himself is said to have un-
dertaken to support this singular petition, and was pre-
pared to oppose before the commissionets the arguments of
the players, but the commission was dissolved before it
came to a hearing.
When the rehellion oOmmenced in 1642, Taylor left
London, and retired to Oxford, where he was much no-
ticed, and esteemed for his facetious turn. He kept a
eommon victuaHtng house there, and wrote pasquiis against
the roend-heads; by which he thought, and Wood too^
aeems to think, that he did great service to die royal Cause.
After the garrison at Oxford had surrendered, he Vetired
to Westminster, i&ept a public-house iti Phoenix-alley, near
Long-acre, and continued constant in his loyalty to the
king; after whose death, he set up a sign over his doOr of
a mourning crown ; but that proving oflfensive, he pulled
it down, and hung ep his own picture, with tbeae versitk
under it :
*' There's many a heaci stands for a sign.
Then, geutte i^eader, why not mine V*
And on the other side,
"Tho* I deserve not, I desire
The laurel wreath, the poet's hire/*
He died in 1654^ i^ged seventy- low» as Wood w«i isK
formed by his nepheW| a painter of O^iford, who gave i^
portrait to the picture-gallery there in 1655. This ni-
phew'9 own portrait, also by himself, is on the staircase.
His works were published under the title of << All th^
TA^rLOa 177
Wol:kes of Jobn Taylor tbe watofwpoet) betn^ sixty and
three in nuoaber) coHeeCed toto one voludie by the author^
with sundry nev additions ; corrected^ revised, and newly
imprinted/' 1630^ folio. Tbe^ pieces, which are not des^
titute of, natural humour, aboondi with low jingling wit,
which pleased and prevailed in the reign of James I. and
which too often bordered upon bombast and nonsense. He
was countenanced by a few persons c^rank and ingenuity ;
but was the darling and admiration of nmaiibers of the rabble.
He was himself the father of some cant words, and he has
adopted others which were only in the mouths of the lowest
vulgar. From the date of this volume it is evident that it
does not contain those '^ pasquils*' and satires which Wood
says he wrote at Oxford, and which perhaps it might have
been unsafe to avow, or re^publisb, ^as be did not survive
the times of the usurpation. Five articles, however", whose
titles may be seen in the '^ Bibliotbeca Anglo-Poetica,^'
were published between 1637 and 1641. One of them iff
the life of old Par, printed in 1635, when Par is said to
have been living at the age of one hundred and fifty*two.^
TAYLOR (John), a learned dissenting teacher, was born
near Lancaster in 1694, and educated at Whitehaven. He
settled first at Kirkstead in Lincolnshire, Where he preached
to a Very small congregation, and taught a grammar school
for the support of. bis family, near twenty years^butin-
1733, his merit in this obscure situation being known, be
was unanimously chosen by a presbyterian coog^gation at
Norwich, where he preached many years, and avowed his
sentiments to be hostile to the Trinitarian doctrine. From
this city he was, 'in 1757, invited to Warrington in Lan-
cashire,, to superintend an academy formed thene ; being
judged tbe fittest person to give this new institution a pro*
per dignity and reputation in the world. With this invita*
tion, which was warmly and importunately enforced, he
complied ; but some differeuces about precedency and au-
thority, as well as some disputes about the principles of
morals, soon involved, and almost endangered, the very
being of the academy, and subjected him to such treatment
as he often said, *^ would shorten his days :" and so it
prored. ' He Irad a vtfry good constitution, which he had ,
prayer yed by temperance, but it was now undermined by a
< ALb. Of. FoK lI.--.HarleiaB Cat. No. 3517, vol. III.--Cibber'« .Lives —
^IriDger. . ,-» ;i ' %
Vol. XXIX. N
178 TAYLOR.
oompHcaiion of disorders. '^The last time'I taw- inoi^''
' says Dr. Harwood^ ^^ he bitteriy lamented bia unhappy si«
tuacion^ and hiii being rendered (all proper autfaoritjr, aar
a tutor^ being taken from bim) utterly intapahie of beinfg
any longer useful, said his life waanot any object of desim
to hinii wheii his public usefulness was do mure ; and re*
peated with great eaiotion some celebrated lines to tbit
purpose out of Sophocles/'
He di«d March 5» 176 !» 'tiaving gone to bed as well a^
usual the night before^ only complaining a little of a pres^
sure on his stomach. Of his writings, the first be puMish<!d-
was '^ A prefatory Discourse to a Narrative of Mr. Joseph
Rawson's Case ;** who was excluded from communion with
the congregational ^church at Nottingbai^, for asserting the
unity and supremacy of God the Father. In 1740, ^ Tb0
Scripture doctrine of Original Sin," in which thai ^doetrilie^
is denied. This has gone through three editbns. In 1745^
*^ A Paraphrase on the Romans-/' republished by bishop
Watson in bis <^ Tracts/' and recommended by Dr: Ben^
tham in his ^^Reflections on the study of Divinity;" and
the same year, ^^ A Scripture Catechism with Pix>t)fs." Iti'
1750, ^^A Collection of Tunes in various Airs/ /with *:
Scheme for supporting the spirit and practioe of Psalmody^
in oongriegations;" In 1751, '^ The Imporlmtice ^ Cbil»'
dren \ <ix^ Motives to the good Education of Cblldseii:'^ In^
1753, " The Scripture Doctrine of Atonement." In 1754,
bis great work^ the labour of his whole life, ^^ An^Aebr^w
English Concordance," in 2 vols, folio, whtoh' wiilKretnain
a lasting monument of his indefatigable industry'ai>d^criei^'
cal «kili« The same year, ^^ The Lord's SupfRer.explaini&d'
upon Scripture principles." In 1755, ^*T4ia Covenant 4)f
Graoe in defence of infant bapttsaa." Itv 1757, ^< A Obiai;gi0'
delivered at the ordination o£^Mr« Smiiifafon.!' i .la ii^dfi,-
*<tA Sermon," preached at- the openingof idie new^<d}a)8lel>'
iR^Norwicb^i la i.759, ^' An Examioatipaof \^k>> UotoheKinW'
Scbeitie oiMoratity." His last pecGormailcttv Bi>i?6Ay/^i^''
^^ km^xxk of Mol»lPhiio5ophy;'^1rin0h'ibe,tklel«>upi1fcn(>
thotus«e jof his^wo ^pupils, andjaai intruduc^ay to^rfi^Wol^-'
laMdnVHeligion' of Nature^" < -, :? o: f-^ •- flfii?:ai>.
.Sx4^ hi^jfirstaetitiitigat. Wardngtonos talJor,7bb spbim'
alLhisjJtfistiffe) hours- ift ceviewia^ lue ^ft(!MiiHlneknicB$^.'Qo|>4i :
latir^vjifuisage&in aaalpfaabeticai'oqddr^^aad'Xtinreotiitg theorr
English translation. He had made a considerable advance
\n this ^sefof ^work, when d>ath sdt*df WM:'* D^.T^ylor
- f-
T AY LOR. 179
tomposed^ and fairly iratiseribed, a nofnber o£ tUsooursctf
on oaorai^ • crilical, and practicai subjects, sufficient to
make four volumes in dvo, wbidi be designed for the press,
and intended to be published after his death : aiKt accord -^
ingiyhis ^^Sebeoieof Scripture. Divinity'' was afterwards
published by his son* .Dr. Taylor deviated very early from
theortbodoG^ systeiA, at first adopting the sentroients of
Dr.* Clarke on the subject of the Trinity, but became at last
a.Sboidian^ which Dr. Clarice waii not Gilbert Wakefield
givesia. aiaguiar character of Dr.Tayfat: " The reader,'*
sl^ya Wakefield, ^^ who is acquainted with the writings of
tbis.v^ry I^aroed^ lifa^ral, and rational divine, cannot fail
to be iiK^pressed wittieentiments^ bighiy favourable to the
genil^ness and forbearance of their author : for even tbd
meekness of Cbristianrty itself is exhibited in his prefaces
aad ocoa^pnal addresses, to the reader. But he was, iir
reality, al very peevish ahd angry disputant in conversation^
atidjtJidtatorial even to intolerance. So imperfect a judg-
ment piay be formed of the mildness or asperity of any
author from tbe. correspondent quality of his writings*.'*
But an authority^ equally valid with that of Mr. Wakefield,
praises Dn Taylor's ^^ agreeable deportment in society, free
frein pedatitry and superciliousness^ and marked by ktnd^
ness and a&foiHty ;" yet Mr. Wakefield's character of him x
is a curious document^ as affording a perfect cont?rast to his
own.^ .
.TAYLOR (JoilN),.^a learned critic and philologist, wa^
boru at Sbrew^ury, and baptised at St: Alkmund's choreh
June 2ii, 1704. His father followed the humble occu]:»M;ion
of a barber, an^' his son was designed for the same business;
bkt a strong passion for letters, which early displayed it^
s^i, being providentially fostered by the generous patron-
age. 06 ft) neighbouring gentkman, enabled young Taylof
t(lt£jl;a far higher station in society than that to whictSi he
iii^si.efitiiled by his birth.. The steps which led to this
happy ch&Dgfe iB hiasitaaupn are worthy ofnoticei Tay«
Iofvitk|3jfailier,'beingiaccustomed to attend £dwaM Owen,
oflQMdover, 'esq. in his capacity of a barber, that gen^^
ileman used to inquire occsisionally into th& state* of bis
fainitj^ fiir.what ^ade he designed* bis son,- dtci* The^
iD^oirieaneictrfiEdled to produce a lamentation firem t1ieold'<
inanj f^^this>«itD^«rdx&position of Jiis son Jadev ^^wfaoonj*'*
,, } Harvroi^d's Foiwri) fteraiQ^.for J?r. Xaylpx.-^Wakf field'* >IeWQi:^s. .^ . , . ^
If 2
180 TAYLOR.
said be, ^f I cannot get to dress a wig or shave a beardi so
perpetually is be poring overbooks/' Sach coroplaints^
often repeated, at length awakened the attention of Mr.
Owen, who determined to send bina to the university,
chiefly at his own expence< St. John's in Cambridge,
which has an intimate connection with the free-school of
Shrewsbury, naturally presented itself as the place of his
academical education; and Mr. Taylor was doubtless * as-
sisted by one of the exhibitions founded in the college for
the youth of that school. Under this patronage he pursued
his studies in the university*, and regularly took bis de-
grees, that of B. A. in 1727, andofM. A. in 1731, and in
the preceding year was chosen fellow. Thus employed in
his favourite occupations, the periods of his return into his
native country were the only times which threw a transient
cloud over the happy tenor of his life. On such occasions
be was expected to visit his patron, and to partake of the
noisy scenes of riotous jollity exhibited in the hospitable
mansion of a country gentleman of those days. The gpra-
titude of young Taylor taught him the propriety of making
these sacrifices of his own comfort ; but it could not pre-
vent him from sometimes whispering his complaints into
the ears of his intimate friends. A difference of political
opinion afforded a more serious ground of difference* A
great majority of the gentry of Shropshire vva» at that pe-
riod strenuous in their good wishes for the abdicated family*
Though educated at Cambridge, Taylor retained his at-
tachment to toryism, but did not adopt all its excesses ; and
he at length forfeited the favour of his patron, without the
hc^es of reconciliation, by refusing to drink a Jacobite
toast on his bare knees, as was then the custom. This re-
fusal effectually precluded him from all hopes of sharing in
the great ecclesiastical patronage at that time enjoyed by
the Condover family, and inclined him, perhaps, to aban-
don the clerical profession for the practice of a -civilian.
But.however painful to his feelings this qnarrel with jbis
benefactor might prove, he had the consolation, to reBect
that it could not now dieprive him of the prospec^t of an e^sy
^KMnpeteoce. His character asr a scholar was established in
• the uhiversity ; he was become.- a fellow and tiutor of his
college; and on the 30th of Jan. 1730, he was appointed , i
"i^ I« the Gent. Mag. 1719, p. 250, ^' in»d« by a prettjr oiode«t lad one '
is a copy of Latin vcr^ei od the deatli Taylor, a junior $%pbii" |
(»f a Mr«£ylet> ale^low of'St.Joho's,
TAYLOR.
181
to deliver the Latin oration then annually pronounced in
St, 'Mary's before the university on that solemn anniversary;
and at the following comn^encement he viras selected to
speak the music speech, both of which were printed. This
last performance, of which but two instances occur in
the last century, viz. 1714 and 1730, was supposed to
require an equal share of learning and genius: for, besides
la short compliment in Latin to the heads of the university,
the org,tor was expected to produce a humourous copy of
£nglish verses on the fashionable topics of the day, for the
entertainn^iant of the female part of his audience ; and in
the execution of this office (derived like the Terras filius of
Oxford, from the coarse festivities of a grosser age) some-^
times indulged a licentiousness which surprises one on per-
usal. The music speech of Mr. Taylor is sufficiently free ;
and, though it does some credit to his poetical talents, is
not very civil to his contemporaries of Oxford, (whom he
openly 4^xes with retaining their fellowships and wives at
the expence of their oaths) or to the members of Trinity
college, in his own university, whom he ironically repre-
sents as the only members of Cambridge wh\> could wipe off
the stigma of impoliteness imputed to them by the sister
university. This speech was printed by his young friend
^nd fellow collegian Mr. Bovvyer, and the publication con-*
eludes, with an ,ode designed to have been set to music.
These were not the only effusions of Mr. Taylor^s muse,
for in the Gent. Mag. l779, p. 365, are some verses by him
on the marriage of Lady Margaret Harley to the duke of
Portlaivd, and others reprinted by Mr. Nichols.
In March 1732, he was appointed librarian, which office
he held but a short time, being in 1734 appointed registrar
'of the university. From this time Cambridge became his
principal residence, but he was in London in 1739, at
which time his celebrated edition of *^ Lysias'' appieared^.
* On this subject Mr, Clarke writes
thus to Mr. Bowyet : ^* T am glad Mr.
Taylor is got into your press : it will
make his Lysias more correct. I hope
yott will not let hita prim too great
a number of copies, It will encourage
a young editor, to have his first at-
tempt rise upon his hands. I fancy
yon have got him in the press for life,
if ha has any tolerable success there;
he is too busy a man to be idle." It
was published under the titia Of <* Ly-
shb Orationes & Fragmenta, Gitec^ ke
h%imh. Ad fldem Oodd. Manoacrip-
torum receosuit, Notts criticis, Intor-
pretatione nora, cseteroque apparata
necessaritt dooavit Joannas Taylor^
A. M. Coll. O. Joan. CanUb. Soe,
Academiac olim a Bibliothects. hodio
a Commentariis/ Accedont €1. Jen
Marklandi, Col. D. Pet. Soc. Conjee-*
tnrae. Londini, ex Officioi^ Qnlielmi
Bowyer, in ssdibos olim Carmeiitacis^
1739." Of Uiiti arvr^i which u no«r
1S2. TAYLOR.
This edition, which evinces his intimate knowledge of the
Greek language and of Attic law, is executed, as to the ex->
ternal enDbellishments of type and paper, in a manner which
reflects great credit on the press of Mr. Bowyer, from which
it proceeded. Mr. Taylor's subsequent publications issujed
from the university press of Cambridge. In 1740 he took
his degree of LL. D. The subject which he chose for his
act, is curious, and worthy of our author. A. Geilius had
related, on ihe authority of the ancient jurists, that by the
laws of die ten tables the body of the insolvent debtor was
cut in pieces and distributed among his creditors. JDr.
Taylor undertook to set this in a new light, and to shew
that it was the property and not person of the debtor, that
was liable to this division; and if he did not succeed in
producing complete conviction, his treatise was at (east
calculated to increase the opinion already entertained of
his erudition and ingenuity* It was published in 1742,
under the title of '* Commentarius ad legem decemvira-r
lem de inope debitore in partes dissecaudo,'' with an ap«
pendix of curious papers. Although he was admitted of
Doctors Commons in this year 1742^ it does not appear ^hat
be practised as a civilian, but about this time tber^ was 9,
desigu to employ his talents in a civil station, as under^sevi
cretary of state to lord Granville.
, In the following year the learning and critical abilities
pf Dr. Taylor were again called forth. The late earl of
Sandwich, on his return from a voyage \o the Greek islands^
of which his own account has been published since his death,
and which shews him to have been a nobleman of consider*
*
able learning, brought with him a marble frpm Delc^. That
island, ^^ which lay in the very centra of the then trading
world,'* (to use the words of our learned cpuntrymin, Mr.
Clarke,) ^^ was soon seized by the Atheaia^s and applied to
the purposes of a commercial repository : and this subtle
become scarce, no more flian 500 co- were ad^eHii»t; M jitit jptubHiiied,
pte$ were pridtfd on demy paper, 75 '' i^roponldi ^rpfiDtiDg'by;fu|)fQrip«
frnro^al paper, and *25 on /H fine writ- tioo, f new an4 correct edition of Do-
ing royal. The doctor always enter- mosthenes and JE^chines, by' Joha
taioed a fond hope of reprinting it, like Taylor, A. M. fellow of St. Jobo/s col-
bia-Deniostheiie«» with an equal quan* lege, and registrar of thj^.uoifefAity of
tity of note* to both p^g%%, U was in Cambridge.**— N. B, Ou or before the
part republished at Cambridge, 1740, S4th day of December neict, 'lyjil b^
in 8tOy under the titl« of ** Lysiae Athe-» published, (and^ . deliverefl. t;o/,i sub^
^ aifiitis Oratiooes G|ra9c6 &I<atin^,.ex scribers if desired) ' Oratio contra Lep-
luterprelatione & cum brevibus Notis tiuem,' which begins the third Vuliliq)Q
Joaonis Taylori |u ustim stt^diofie #u- of the above*>ineuifO]ieUM:^rkJf . ^'
veutulis." At the end of this volume
TAYLOR. 183
... . ,
and entc^rprizing people, to encrease tb^ sacreduess and
inviolability of its character, celebrated a solemn festival
there once in every olympiad." The marble in question
contained a particulac of all the revenues and appointments
set apart for that purpose. From the known skill of Dr.
Taylor on all points of Grecian antiquity it was submitted
to his inspection, and was published by him in 1743, under
the title .of *'Marmor Sandvicense cum commentario et no-
tis ;*' and never probably was an ancient inscription more
ably or satisfactorily elucidated. In the same year he ^Iso
published the only remaining oration of Lycurgus, and one
of Demosthenes, in a small octavo volume, with an inscrip-
tion to his friend Mr. Charles Yorke.
This volume i$ printed on the same type with, an.d was
intended as a specimen of, his projected edition of all the
works of that great orator; a task which ^* either the course
of bis studies, or the general consent of the public, had,"
he says, "imposed upon him." While he was engaged in
this laborious undertaking he received an accession of dig-
nity and emolument ; being in the beginning of 174-4 ap-.
pointed by the bishop of Lincoln, Dr, John Thomas, to the
office of chancellor of that extensive diocese, in the room
of Mr. Reynolds. For his introduction to- thiis prelate he
was indebted to the kindness of his great patron lord Gran-
yille, as we learn from the dedication of the third volume
of his Demosthenes, which came out in the spring of 1748,
the publicatioi) of the first volume being postponed, that
^ the fife of the great orator and the other prolegomena might
appear \yith more correctness.
.In April 1751, Dr. Taylor succeeded the rev. Christo-
/ pber Anstey, D. D. in the rectory of Lawford in Essex, a
living belonging to St. John's college, and the only paro-
'* <?hial -cure he ever enjoyed ; and in Jan. 1753, he became
j archdeacon of Buckingham. After he took orders he wa^
'' esteemed a very eminent and successful preacher; but he
' <h^ i^Mf^ two occasional sermons in print. When the late
^'ni^m[uisof Bath and his brother were sent to St. John's,
,%)^fiej? were placed under the care of our author by bis pa-
■' iron. lord Granville^ maternal grandfather of these two young
• no^li^men. This charge led to his work on the " Elem^ts
.1 o^l[JivU Law," 1755, in 4to,! and which was forhned from
[ the papers drawn up by him to instruct bis noble pupils in
{ the origin of Natural law, the rudiments of civil life, and of
social <iutie». If the work, as published, partalces soipe-
184
TAYLOR.
whBt too much of the desultory character of 6ucb loose pa-v
pers; if its reasoning is oqcasionally confased, aod ir^ dit
gressions soonetimes irrelevant, it is impossible to deny it
the praise of vast reading and extensive information oa vo-r
lious subjects of pqlite learning and recondite antiquity* It
quickly came to a sepond edition, aod has also been pub-*
lished in an abridged form, It did not however escape
without some severe animadversions*
The learned world at Cambridge was at that tiqi^.divided
into two pi^rties : the polite scholars and the pbilologi$ts.
The former^ at the head of which were Gray, Mason, ^c*
superciliously confined all merit to their own circle, and.
looked down with Yasttdious contempt on the rest of tbei
world. It is needless to observe th^it Dr. Taylor belonge4
to the latter class* Dr. Hurd, a member of the former, ^
writer of celebrity, and eminent for his attachment to War-
burton, of whose ^^schooP' he was a distinguished disciple,
in a most unjustifiable pamphlet, published the same year,
1755, and directed against the amiable and modest Jortin ^j
steps out pf his way to express his contempt of Taylor,
whi(^h was but the prelude to a more severe attack froni
Warburtoq himself. Our author f in his Elements had ex**
pressed his opinion ths^t the persecutions which the fir^(
Christians experienced from the Roman emperors prOf>
ceeded not from any peculiar disapprobation of their te-
nets, but from a jealousy entertained of their nocturnal ast
semblies. In expressing this opinion, Taylor did not men*
tion, and perhaps did not even think of Warburton ; but as
the latter in his Divine Legation had derived these persecur
tions from another source, the absurdities of Pagan religion
and the iniquities of Pagan politics \ the holding, and much '
more the publishing, of a contrary notion by any contem-
porary was too great an offence for that haughty dogmatist
to pass with impunity. His prefaces and notes were, a$
was wittily observed of him, the established places of exe-
cution for the punishment of dll who did not implicitly
* The offence of Jortin was similar
to that of Taylor. He had dared tp
dissent from Warbarton's strange, and
now exploded hypothesis on the de-
scent of lEneBS in tlie 6th JEnetd.
f The real offence said to have been
given by Taylor was an opinion which
|ke h94 t^foifB opt in company dero-
gatory to tlie chaficter of ArYarbutton
as a scholar : this reached the ears ot
the other, who with a frankness peco-
liar to himseif, interrogated oar critic
on \he subject. Dr. Taylor is report*
ed to have replied that he did not re-
collect ever saying that l!>r. Warburton
was no scholar, but that indQ6d he had
^ways ikpught so.
/
TAYLOR, 18S
adopt bis sentiments, and having occasion soon after (in
1758) to pubikh a new edition of that celebrated \vork| he
seized that opportunity to chastise Taybr, with all the
vhruience, wit^ and tngenuity of distortion, which he could
command.
An attack so insolent and unprovoked could not injure
ibe established character of Dr. Taylor, or ruffle bis tem^
per, and he wisely abstained from taking any notice of it.
There appeared however in 1758 a pamphlet, entitled
^^ Impartial Remarks upon the preface of Dr. Warburton,
in which he has taken uncommon liberties with the cha*
racter of Dr. Taylor;" but it is said to be a poor perform-
ance, the only information which it contains being the
anecdote in the preceding note as to the real origin'^ the
dispute. Taylor seems at this time to have been better
employed than in controversy, as the second volume of bit
** Demosthenes" appeared in May 1757, and in the fol-
lowing July he was made a canon residentiary of St. Pauro.
For this appointment, which was the summit of his prefer-
ment, he was indebted to his steady and active patron lord
Granville, who was now a member of administration. In
consequence of this dignity, he resigned the office of regis-
trar, in 1758, and quitted Cambridge to reside in London*
|iere he still proceeded to collect and arrange the mate«
rials for the first volume of his Demosthenes*, but the ex-
pectations of the learned were frustrated by his death, which
took place on the 14th day of April, 1766, at his house in
Amen Corner, Paternoster Row. He was buried in the
vault under St. Paul's, under the litat^y desk, where is an
epitaph.
Dr/ Taylor used to spend part of his summers in bis na-
tive county, taking for that purpose a ready-furnished
house, in which he might enjoy the society of bis friendtf.
For several years he rented the curate's house at Edge^
mond, his equipage in the mean time standing at livery in
the neighbouring town of Newport.
As Dr. Taylor had been for many years in the receipt of
an ample^ and even splendid income, it might have been
expected that he should die in affluent circumstances. But
this was by no means the case. He Uved in a handsome
«tyle» and expended a large sum of money in books. His
* The two volamcis of Demoithenet title pages, and conTerted tb# thtitt
arenowiold as the first and second, volame into the first.
The booksellers have sspplied »tw
188 TAYLOR.
library ftt the time of bis death was large an4 vftliiable*
This, with die residue of bis fortuae, for the sppport of
an exhibition at St. John's, be bequbealhed to the school
where be had received his education; reserving; boiv^v^r^
to his friend and physician Dr. Askew all his M$§* * Mi
»i3ic*h of his printed books as eontained bis insHrgioal ^ooo-
taiions. 1'he u»e which Askew made of this bequest has
been severely censured. The latter clause was enforced
with the utmost rigour, so as to include a vast number of
books, which the testator intended to form part of .bis do-
nation to the schools ; and Dr. Askew is thought to haveb^n
still more reprehensible in putting into Reiska's hatnls the
indigested and unfinished mass of papers belonging) to
Taylor's proposed first vol ume, who printed them JMstas
\fe had received them, and then attacked the critical sJiill
of t'jeir author.
. In private life, Dr. .Taylor's character was. Extremely
amiable: his temper remarkably social, and his talents
fitted to adorn and gladden society. The eveo,tenour.of
bis employments furnished him with an uninterrupted «fipw
of spirits. Though be was so studiously devoted to letters,
I — though as an intimate friend and fello^^•'Collegian of his
informs us, ** if you called on him in college. after dinft^r,^
you were «ure to find him sitting at an oid oval w^^^ut
xable,- covered with books, — ^yet when you beg^ to.Jins^e
apologies for disturbing a person so well etAploy/?4> ^be
imme^diately told you to advance, and called out,. /^ Jo^n,
John, bring pipes, and glasses,'* and iostantly ^pp^ai'^d^^as
cheerful and gopd-bumoured as if he had not h?e^:M.all
eiigaged or interrupted. Suppose now you h$^d il^i4i:$s^s
long a« yqu would, and been eniert^ained by bifl). ^iM^st
agreeabfy, you took your leave and got balf-wiyj./ij^ojffp.^be
^taifis, but recollecting somewhat tlut y:ou ba^.tlp. s^,fto
bioi, yott.goiii again ;^ the bottles and glasses jvi^re^^pde,
ibe books had expanded themselves so as to re^oQ^up^^^e
whole tabic, and he was just as much bturied ,in.:i^e)9a(Tas
wi)ea ypo 'first came in.'' > » ^A
' He iored a game at cards, and we are told t^^i^e
. i ' '- ' ' . •'-■'■■;*
* Tho^e oo pbilolo^^ical subjects him, oF modern customs derived from
vere sold to tKe university of Cam- Grecian and Roman ant^uiiyr^deitne
>d%<S' Ml ^Dr.' Askf^v^i deatfau Be- smgulji^r ing^aces o^ nki^}pifjiie\^\ist4
sides these, our author had many pa- there adduced. Various particulars
?t^r$ 4)11 /^^t>j^t»,Al^f English anUjiiQity; respecting his .MSSj. are in Mr. ^i-
n his Civil Uw, p. ^7, be mention* chols's " AnecdotesJ^' ' ^
* plentiful collection whidi he had by ' ' '" ^^' '^ ^""' ^'^ ""•
T A Y L O R. 187
l^tajred welL fie ^^^ ako an excellent relator of a .story;
>of which he had' a lapge and entertaining collection ; but
like most • ^torj'^'teliers was somewhat too apt to repeat
^jtbetil> 'His friend, the facetious atid good-bumoured Henry
-i^uBbard of E^ifiannely with whom he greatly associated,
"^vonid sometitneif, in the evenings which they used to past
-alolie together, use the freedom of jocosely remonstrating
^ ^tti himti^oH the subject, and when the Doctor began one
^ of his' anecdotes, 'woulrf cry oat, *'Ah, dear Dociior, pray
" <io not let US have that story any more, I have be0rd it S9
'^ <^feen ;'*• to which Taylor often humouroasiy replied,
7<< (3om<^ Harry, let me tell it this once more," and would
' then gb on ^itb hit narration. Many other curious anec*^
^ dotes, otf Dr. Tay>or, with much of his correspondence,
may- be seen \\\ Mr. Niclvok^s third volume along with the
Jives of many of his learned contemporaries.'
V * TAYLOR (Silas), an able English antiquary, who is. in-r
traduced by Anthony Wood with an alias DoMViLLfi or
-D'OMviLLE, we know not why, was the son of Sylvanus
' Taylor, one of the commissioners for ejecting those of the
clergy, who were called ** scandalous and insufficient mi*
lii^lers,^' and one of the pretended high court of justice
fop the trial' of Charles I, Silas wa« born at Hariey near
M<idi#enlock in Shropshire, July 16, lf»24, and after
**otfje 'ecfecation at Shrewsbury and Westminster-schools,
'^'becat^e a- commoner of New-Inn^hall, Oxford, in 1641.
'-He had given proof of talents fit to compose a. distinguished
^^scbolar, both fn the classics and matbeoifiiftica, -when bis
faAer- tcfok him from the university, and made him join
the parliamentary army, in which he bore a captaAin's con)-
' ^^ission. When the war was over^ his father procured him
tb be made a sequestrator of the royalists in Herefordshire,
btit althbugb he enriched himself » comideraWjr in this
• oflfce, afnd had a moiety of the bialjop's palace at Here*
'ford* settled on him,' be conducted himself jwith snob kind*
^pe^af and moderation as to be beloved of. the Jtim^'spdrty:
At the restoration, he of course lost ali he had gaiocdas
' the'^ager^t'of usurpation, but his mild behaviour in that
ungracious office was not forgot, ,and by the interest of
.fi^om^ .w.hqm he had obliged, he was appointecj commissary,
pf amnnunition, &c. at Dunkirk, and about 166/5 was made
^ 1 NicMsV Bowyer.— History of vShrewsbiiry, 1810," 12mo, « ^ery *«n «rifc.
itn article, wbicti we have generaliy fotlo^ea xtk^ prtcettng^ a<Jc«int '
188 T A r L O R.
1
keeper of the king's stores and storehouses for shippings
&c. at Harwich, The profits of this situation were proba^
biy not great, for he was much in debt at the time of* his
death, w^hich occasioned his valuable collections and MSS.
to be seized by his creditors, and dispersed as of no value.
He died Nov« 4, 1678, and was buried iii the chancel of
the church of Harwich.
He appears to have been an early inquirer into the an-
tiquities of his countr}', and while in power ransacked the
libraries of the cathedrs^ls of Hereford and Worcester for
valuable MSS., among which was the^original grant of king
Edgar, whence the kings of England derive their sove-
reignty of the seas. This was printed in Selden's " IVUre
clausum.*' He left large materials for a history of Here«-
fordsbire, which Dr. Rawlinson understood to have been
deposited in lord O:xford'$ library ; but in the Harleian
catalogue we find only part of bis history of Herefordshire^
at the end ,of MS. 6766, and extracts f^om Doomsday,
No. 6856. Mr. Dale, who published a *^ History gf Har-
wich" from Taylor's papers, in 1730, speaks of these col-
lections as being lately^ if not noWi in the hands of sir Ed-
ward Harley of Brompton-Brian, grandfather of the first
carl of Oxford. The only work Taylor published, wj^s the
'^ History of Gavelkind, with the etymology thereof; conr
taining also an assertion, that our English laws are, for the
most part, those that were used by the ancient Brytains^
notwithstanding the several conquests of the- Romans, Sax-
ons, Danes, and Norn^ans. With some observations and
remarks upon many especial occurrences of British and
English history. To which is added, a short history of
William the conqueror, written in Latin by an anonymous
author in the time of Henry I." Lond. 1663, 4to. In this
work he carries both the name and custom of Gavelkin4
further back than was done by his predecessor on the same
fsubject, Somner. In all material points he confirms the
opinion of Somner, who answers bis objections in marr
ginal notes on a copy of bis book, which, with a correct
copy of his own, is in Canterbury library. Tayloir's work
we should suppose oi great rarity, as no copy occurs in
Mr. Cough's collection given to Oxford, or in that sold in
London. Wood says, that Taylor wrote mauy pamphlets
before the riestoration, but as they were without his name,
he did not think proper to acknowledge them. . He speak$
ajso of Taylor's abilities not only in tbe theory^ but pirac-'
Taylor; i8§
lice of music, and as a composer of anthems, and the editor
of " Court Ayres, &c.'* 1655, 8vo, printed by John PJay*
ford. His name, however, seems to have escaped the at«
tention of our musical historians. '
TAYLOR (Thomas), one, of the tnost eminent and
learned of the puritan divines, was bom at Richmond in
Yorkshire, in 1576, and was educated at Christ's-coilege,
Cambridge, of which he became a fellow, and acquired
great fame for his literary accomplishments. He was
chosen Hebrew lecturer of bis college. At what time he
took holy orders is .not mentioned, but he appears to have
incurred censure for non-conformity in one or two instan- ,
ces. On leaving the university, he settled first at Watford
in Hertfordshire, then at Reading in Beckshire, and after*
wards, in 1625, he obtained the living of St Mary Alder-
inanbury, London, which he retained for the remainder of
his life. Id bis early days he had preached at Paul's cross
before queen Elizabeth, and afterwards before king James,*
and was every where admired and followed for the plain-
ness, perspicuity, and soundness of his doctrines, and the
great zeal and earnestness with which he laboured in the*
pastoral office for the space of thirty years. While he par-^
took of the zeal, common to all his brethren, against
popery, he was also an avowed enemy to Arminianism and
Antinomianism. He died in the beginning of 1632, in the
fifty*fifth year of his age, and was interred in St. Mary'tf
church. Leigh, Fuller, Wood, and all his contemporarie*
unite in giving him a high character for learning, piety,
and usefulness. He was likewise a voluminous writer ; hif
works, most of them printed separately, were collected iit
3 vols. fol. 165*9. They consist of commentaries, which
were generally the substance of what he had preached on
particular parts of scripture; and single sermons, or trea-
tises. He and Dr. Thomas Beard of Huntingdon, were
joint compilers of that singular and once very popular coU
lection of stories, entitled ^* The Theatre of God'^s Judg-*
ments," 1648, &c. fol.*
TEDESCHL See TUDESCHL
TEISSIER (Anthony), a learned and laborious French
writer, was born at Montpelliet Jan. 28, 1632. He stddietl
at Lunel, Orange, and other places, and having acquired
'^ Ath. Ox. tqI. n.**«GoHg;fa*ff Topography.
« Life prefixed to his Works.— Clark V Uvea at Uieeiid of bit Martyrolofy.-r.
9\in»rH Worthies.— AUi. Ox, to). I.
ISO T E I S S IE R.
a knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and theolo^^ he went to
Paris, where be fortnecl an acquaintance wiib some emi**
sent men of the day, Pelisson, Conrart, Meimgef and
others, and on his return received the degree oC doctoi* of
laws at Bourges. He then went to Nismes, ami practised
at the bar, became a counsettor of the city, and a member
of the Protestant consistory, and a member also of th^
tiewly-founded academy. In 1685, on the revocation of
the edict of Nantz, he found it necessary to retire to Swit*
^erland, and finally to Berlin, where the elector of Bran-
denburgh gave htm^ the title of counsellor of embassy, and .
historiographer, with an annual pension of 300 crowns^
which was afterwards increased. He died at Berlin, Sept.::
7, 17] 5, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He piib-^
lisbed sevetal translations, from the works of St. Cbry-^
sostom; the lives of Caiviaand Beza, from the Latin of
Gakacius Carraccioli, and of Francis Spira ; the eloges of
eminent men, from Tbuanus, of which there have been four
editions, tlie best that of Leyden, 1715, 4 vols. ISaio;:
the epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthiaos, from the
Greek ; a treatise on martyrdom, from the Latin of Heideg*
ger, &c. &c. This most useful work is entitled *' Gate*'
logos auctorum qui librorum catalogos, indices, bibliothew
Caa^ viromm iiteratorum elogia, vitas, aut oratibnes ftme*-
bres scriptis consignarunt," Geneva, 1686, 4to, with a.
fuppleioent, in 170)5.. This is a greatly improved editien .
of Labbe's ^* Bibliotbeca Bibliotbecarom.'* * *
TELESi US (Bernard), a modern philosopher, vms bon>^ .
at Naples in 1.508, and received the first part of his edu-M
cation .at Milan, where he acquired a perfect knowledge
of the Latin and Greek languages. After futssing twd^ !
years at Rome, where he made great proficiency in j^oiitO' *x
learntfkg, he refmoved to Padua, and appliedf^^ritb inden" ^
fati^able assiduity tx) the study of mathematics and pbHo^'J
sophy. He very judiciously employed mathematical learo-r^
ing.iia explaining and establishing tbeJawsofpbysics^ and %
was particularly successful in investigating traUiSf beforer: ^
unknown in the doctrine of optics. Accustomed to ma^beh ,''
mauoal accuracy, he grew disflati»fie{bMfHb the admject^i'A
explanation :of natural aptpearano^^gucetiby, Afisftotile^ 4$uiro«
ex|2fessed great surprise that thia^ pbiJoso^bisefshoiri^ baW(/^
been, for so many ages, followed in oiaiQutnerQiafi! erfOfadt
* NicerOD, v©l. V. — Moren, , f. .• *
TELES rUiS. isi
by: sxrifKiiiy learned itien^ by wfaoie nations^ and almost by
the whole- human racse. He pursued his: researehes widi
great ingenuity a5 well as freedotjiy and wrote two books
** Ort 'Natiire," iu which he attempted to overturn thepby-
sieal doctrine of the Peripatetic school, and to explain the^
phenottiena of the material world upon new principles;
When this- treatise was first published at Rome, it obtained
great .aiiid unexpected applause, and Telesius was prevailed
uponHby tbe importunity of his friends at Naples, to open
a aclidol of philosophy in that city. The Telesian school
soon became famous, not only for the number of its pupiU,
but for the' abilities of hs professors, who distinguitihefi
themselves by their bold opposition to the doctrines of
Ari^tle^ and by the judicious manner in which they dis-
tributed their labours, in order to enlarge the bouttdanen
of natural knowledge. The founder of the school was highly
esteemed by all who were desirous of ^studying nature*
rather than dialectics; aud he. was patrohi^edby several
great nieu, particularly by Ferdinand duke of Nuceri. But
his popularity soon awakened the jealousy and envy of the
monks, who leaded him and his schoql with oahtmny, for
no joihet oHence than that he ventured to call in question*
the aotbority of Aristotle. The vexationsr which he suf-
fered from this quarter brought on a bilious disorder, whicb^
in 1588, terminated in his death.
Although, during the life of Telesius, his innovations
were patiently borne, both in Rome and Naples, after his •
death bis wrjA;iAgs were proscribed iri the Index Eicpurga-
torijUs^of'the inquisition. Notwithstanding whichi his phi- -
loso^by corytinued to have many a<>mirers^ and his works>^
were republished at Venice in 1590, by his friend An()o<
nios Persitis, who also: wrote a compendium of his philosoMt
pby in tbeveirnaaaiar tongue. Besides^his prinuipal work(>
De Natura Reram, «** On the Nature -of Things," he wriite
on the airy tbe^sea^ comets, the milky way, the ria^ubow,
cotoiiirsy resfpiraei^M^ sleep, and otlier subjects. Lord Bav
couiokai^ given a brief explanation of the philosophy; fd
TetesfQS; ' •• *'*'.;•, ■,,'.... ^.
The physical systetui, wbieh Tetesius attempted to 'sub^
jkitute m the room of tte sabtleties ami fictions of tha^ S«a^
gyttM} wasibunrdfed upoti ^he Parmetiidean doetiiile,< timt
the^fitue principlei iimature, by means of whieta aU tiaturBl^
phenomena are produced, are cold and heat. The sum of
his theory is this : m&tter, which is in itself incapable of
192 T E L £ S t U S.
action, and Admits neither of increase nor dimination, i^
acted upon by two contrary incorporeal principles, beat
and cold. From the perpetual opposition of these, arises
the several forma in nature ; the prevalence of cold in the
lower regions producing the earth and terrestrial bodies ;
and that of beat in the superior, the heavens and celestial
bodies. All the changes of natural bodies are owing to
this conflict ; and according to the degree in which each
principle prevails, are the different degrees of density^
resistance, opacity, moisture, dryness, &c. which are found
in different substances. In the heavens heat has its fixed
residence, without any opposition from the contrary prin^
ciple : and within the earth, and in the abyss of the sea,
cold remains undisturbed, heat not being able to penetrate
thither. At the borders of each of these regions, that con-*
test between the opposite principles begins, which is car^
ried on through all the intermediate space. All animal and
vegetable life is from God. This system, which Telesiua
evidently borrowed from Parmenides, is but a baseless fa-
brie raised upon a fanciful conversion of mere attributes
and properties into substantial principles, and did not long
survive its author, who would have deserved credit for the
boldness of bis attack upon the principles of Aristotle, bad
be avoided constructing a new system of tiatural philosophy,
liable to the same objection which he had brought against
that of Aristotle, '
TELL (William), one of the heroes of Swiss liberty, in
the beginning of the fourteenth century, a tnan of pro-^
perty, and of good, though not distinguished family, was
an inhabitant of the village of Burgeln in the country of
*Uri. In 1307 he was one of the persons engaged in the
eoospiracy against the Austrian governmentr The bailiff,
or governor, Herman Gesler, either 6rom a' suspioious dis-'
position, or having received some intimation of an impend^
ing insurrection, resolved to ascertain who would most pa*
tiently submit to bis dominion. For this purpose he is said
to have raised a hat upon a pole^ as an emblem of liberty,
and commanded Tell, among others, to pay obeisance to
it. << The youth Tell," says Mailer^ << a friend to freedom,
disdained to honour in a servile masiaer, and on an arbitrary
command, eVen its emblem." Then it was that, according
to the current story, Tell was conunaoded by Gtifer t#
I Brocker. — ^Tirabofehu—Nioeroo^ Tol. "XX^
\
TELL. l»i
sboot an a^rrow at an apple placed on the bead of his own
son ; andy though reluctant, compelled to do it, by the
menace of immediate death, .both to him aiid the infant if
be should refuse. Tell cleft the apple without hurting the
child ; . but could not refrain from informing the tyrant that;
bad his aim. proved less fortunate, he bad another arrow in
reserve, . wbicb be should have directed to the heart of bis
oppressor. . By this manifestation of bis courage and sen-
timents, be induced thebailiflP to confine him ; who, after-
wards,, mistrusting the friends and relations of Tell, re-
solved to carry him. opt of tb^ country of Uri, across the
lake of Lucern ; thoiagh contrary to the acknowledged pri-
vileges of bis countrymen. On the lake, as they were
crossing, a violent storm arose ; aud Gesler, who knew
Tell to be very $kilful in the management of a boat, or-*
dered bis fetters to.be taken off, and the helm committed
to bim. Taking advantage of this circumstance. Tell
steered the boat close to a rock, leaped upon a -flat part of
it, scrambled up the precipice, and escaped. • Gesler also
escaped the danger of the water, but, landing near Kus-
nacht, fell by an arrow from the bow of Tell, whose skill
be thus proved a second time, to his cost. Gesler tfauk
perished by the indignation of a private man, without any
participation of the peoplci and before the day appointed
for their insurrection. Tell retired to Staoffacher, in the
canton of Schwitz^ and on the new yearns day ensuing, all
the Austrian governors- were seized and sent out of the
country. . In- 1354, forty-seven years after this event, TeH
is supposed to have lost hi»life in an inundation at Burgeln.
A ichapel has been erected by bis countryman on the
spot where hp resided, and another on the rock where he
landed : but, from the simplicity o\^ the people, and of the
times ip which be lived, no particular honours or emolu-
ments were assigned to his progeny, who appear to have
lived in obscurity. Tbe last male of bis race, of wboin we
have any .aocount, was John Martin Toll, * of Attinghausen,
who died in 1684« His desoent in the fbmale line became
extinct in .1720.^ Grasser^ a Swiss wr.hiei*,' long ago re-
marked the resemblance between tbe incident of the apple,
as commonly related of Tell, and that * told of Tocco; a
Dane, by Saxo Grammaiicus ; and from this coincidence,
some bave sup\)osed tbe latter*, at least, to be fictitious ;
this, however, does not tfmount to a proof. It is possible,
Vol. XXIX. O
494 T E L L I E R.
though perhaps not ^probable, that it maj have happened
twice.*
TELLIER (FRAM901S Michel le), marquis de Louvois,
-by which title he is generally known, was bom at Parb,
January 18, 1641. He was the son of Michel le Tellier,
secretary of state, and afterwards chancellor of France, and
keeper of the seals. The great credit and power of the
father gave an early introduction to the son into the offices
of state, and he was only twenty-three when the reversion
of the place of war-minister was assigned to him. His
vigilance, activity, and application, immediately marked
him as a man of superior talents for business ; lind two
jfears afterwards, in 1666, he succeeded his father as se-
cretary of state. In 1668 he was appointed post*master««
general, chancellor of the royal orders, and grand vicar of
the orders of 8t Lazarus and Mount Carmel ; in all which
places he fully justified the first conception of bis talents.
By his advice, and under his care, was built the royal hos-
pital of invalids ; and several academies were founded for
the education of young men of good families in the military
line. After the death of Colbert, in 1683, Louvois was
appointed superintendant of buildings, arts, and manufac-
tures. Amidst this variety of occupations, to which his
genius proved itself fully equal, he shone most particularly
in the direction of military affairs. He established maga-
zines, and introduced a discipline which was felt with ad-
vantage in every department of the army. He several
times acted in person as grand master of the ordnance, and
in that branch of duty signalized his judgment and energy
no less than in every other. The force of his genius, and
the success of his most arduous undertakings, gained him
an extreme ascendant over the mind of Louis XIV. but he
' abused his power, and treated his sovereign with a haughti-
ness which created disgust and hatred in all who saw it.
One day, on returning from a council, where he had been
very ill received by the king, he expired in his own apart-
ment, the victim of ambition, grief, and vexation. This
1 happened when he was no more than fifty-one, on the 16 th
of July, 1691.
; .Louvois, with all his talents, was not regretted either by
the king or the courtiers. His harsh disposition, and very
. haughty manners, bad irritated every one against him« He
\ Mailer's Hiit of Switzerluicl, toU I. p. 611.
T S L L I S B. I9h
{B«yHals<x be Reproached for the crueltief exeifeiied in the
Palatinate, and for other sanguinary proceeding He
wished not to be outdone in any severities.. *^1( the enemy
bums one Til Uge within your government,'^- said he, in a
letter to the marshal de Bouflers^ <' do you burn ten Jn
his.'* Yet, notwittistanding every exception which may
Justly be made to his chairacter, has talents were of more
advantage than his faults were of injury to his country. In
no one of his successors was found the same spirit of detail^
united with complete grandeur of views ; the same promp-
titude of execution in defiance of all obstacles ; the same
.firmness of discipline, or the same profound secrecy in de-
sign. Yet he did not support ill fortune with the same
firmness as. his master. When the siege of Coni was raised,
he ca Tied the news to Louis XIV. with tears in bis eyes.
<^ You are easily depressed," said the king ; *^ it is not
difficult to perceive that you are too much accustomed to
success. I, who have seen the Spanish troops within the
walls of Paris, am not so easily cast down.'' His sudden
death is mentioned by madame de Sevign6, in her letters,
in her own characteristic style. ^* He is dead, then ; — this
great minister, this man of so high consideration ; whose
Moi (as M. Nicole says) was of such extent ; who was the
centre of so many affairs, . How much business, how many,
designs, uqw many secrets, how many interests to de-
,veIope! How many wars commenced, how many fine
strokes of chess- to make and to manage ! — ^Oh, give me
but a little time ; — ^I would fain give check to the duke
of Savoy, check-mate to the prince of Orange.— ^No, no ;
not a moment Can we reason on this strange event i No,
.truly ; we must retire into our closets, and there reflect
upon it !"
A book entitled ^^ Testament politique du marquis de
Louvois," was published in his name, 1695, in 12mo, but
the author of it was Courtils, and no just judgment of the
marquis can be deduced from such a rhapsody. He left
prodigious wealth, a great part of which he owed to bis
-wife, Anne de Souvri, marchioness of Courtenvaux, the
richest heiress then in the kingdom, ^
TELLIER (Michael), a celebrated Jesuit, was bora
December 16, 1643, near Vire in Lower Normandy, and
after teaching the belles lettres and philosophy with credit,
1 Diet. Hist
02
196 T E L L I E R.
rose grftdually to the highest offices in iTis society, was ap«
pointed confessor to Loais XIV. on the death of father de
la Chaise, 1709, and chosen an honorary member of the
academy of inscriptions and belles lettres. He procured
the constitution Unigenitus, engaged warmly in the dis-
putes which arose concerning that bull, and after the king's
death, in 1715, was banished to Amiens, and then to la
Fleche, where be died, September 2, 1719, aged seventy-
six. His works are, ^^ Defense des nouveaux Chretiens et
des Missionnaires de la Chine, du Japon, et des Indes,**
12mo. This book made much noise. ^^ Observations sur
la nouvelle Defense de la Version Fran^oise du Nouveau
Testament imprim6 a Mons/' &c. Rouen, 1684, 8vo. The
latter is afi apology for M. Mallet's writings. Father Tel-
Iter was author of several other works^ particularly the
Delphin Quintus Curtius, which is esteemed. He did not
belong to the same family with Teliier, mentioned in the
preceding article. ^
TEMPESTA (Antonio), a Florentine painter, was born
at Florence in 1555, and was a disciple of John Strada, or
Stradanus. He proved in many respects superior to bis
master, and especially in, the fertility of his genius, and th^
vast number and variety of bis figures, tie painted chiefly
landscapes, animals, and battles. He invented with ease,
and executed with vigour ; but not always with delicacy
of colouring. He died in 1630, at the age of seventy«five.
He sometimes engraved, but bis prints are not prize4 in
proportion to his paintings. *
TEMPESTA (Peter), otherwise called Molyn, and
Pi£TRO MuLiER, another artist of note, was born at Haer-
Jem in 1637, and according to some authors, was the dis-
ciple pf Snyders, whose manner be at first adopted, and
painted buntings of different animals, as large as life, with
singular force and success. He afterwards changed both
his style and subjects, and delighted to paint ten^ests^
storms at sea, and shipwrecks, which he executed ad-^
mirably, and therefore got the name, by which he is gene-
rally known, of .Tempesta. After travelling through Hol-
land he went to Rome, and having changed his religion
from protestantism to popery, became greatly caressed as
aaartist, and received the title of cavaliere. After passing
HOiQe years at Rome he visited Genoa, where he was like-
1 Moreri.-*-Dict. Hist. < Pilkingcon.— Strutt.
T E M P E S T A. 197
wise highly honoured, and fully employed, but appears to
have lost all sense of principle or shame ; for, in order to
marry a Genoese lady, be caused bis wife, whom be bad
left at Rome, to be murdered. This atrocious affair being
discovered, be was sentenced to be banged, but by the
intervention of some of the nobility, who admired his ta-
lents, his sentence would probably have been changed to
perpetual ^imprisonment. From this, however, he con-
triv'ed to escape, after being confined sixteen years, and
died in 1701, in the sixty-fourth year of bis age. It was
from this crime that he obtained the name of Pietro Mix-
LIER, or De MuLiERiBUS. His pictures are very rare, and
held in great estimation, and those be painted in prison
are thought to be of very superior merit. He executed
also, by the graver only, several very neat prints, in a
style greatly resembling that of Vander Velde. Tbey con-
sist chiefly of candle»light pieces, and dark subjects. ^
TEMPLE (Sir William), a very eminent statesman and
writer, was the son of sir William Temple, of Sheen, in
Surrey, master of the rolls and privy-counsellor in Ireland,
in the reign of Charles II. by a sister of the learned Dn
Henry Hammond. His grandfather, sir William Temple^
the founder of the family, was the ^younger sonof the
Temples, of Temple-ball, in Leicestershire. He was fel-
low of King^s college, in Cambridge, afterwards mastet o£
the free-school at Lincoln, then secretary successively to
sir Philip Sidney, to William Davison, esq. one of queeti
Elizabeth's secretaries, and to the celebrated earl of Essex,
whom he served while he was lord-deputy of Ireland. la
1609, upon the importunate solicitation of Dr. James Usher^
he accepted the provostship of Trinity college, in Dublin ;
after which he was knighted, and made one of the masters
in chancery of Ireland. He died about 1626, aged se-
venty-two, after having given proof of his abilities and
learning^ by several publications in Latin.
The subject of the present memoir was born in London
ip 1628, and first sent to school at Pensburst in Kent,
under the care of bis uncle Dr. Hammond, then minister
of that parish. At the age of ten he was removed to a
school at Bishop Stortford, in Hertfordshire, kept by Mr.
Leigh, where he was taught Greek and Latin. At the age
of fifteen he returned and remained at home for about
two years, from some doubts, during these turbulent times,
i PilkiogtoD.— Stirutt.
198 T I MP L E.
M to the proprtetfy of tending him to any oaiiFeraitjr. Tbesv
having been remoTed, be wm about, two years after en*
tered of Emanuel college, Cambridge, under the tuttiou
ef the learned Cadvrortb. His fiitber intending him for
political life, seems not to have tbougbt a long residence
here necessary ; and therefore about 1M7, or 1648, sent
him on bis traTels, While on bis way to France he visited
ibe Isle of Wight, where bis majesty Charles L was then a
prisoner; and there formed an attachment, to Dorothy, se^
coifed daughter of sir Peter Osborn, of Obicksand, in IBed-
fordsbire, whom he afterwards married.
His travels extended to France, Holtaad, Flanders, a^
Germany ; during wbteh be acquired a facility in speaking
and reading those modern languages, which tbew formed
a necessary accomplishment in a statesman. In 1654, on
his return, he married the above«mentioned Mrs. Osborn,
and passed his time for some years with bis father and fa-:
mily in Ireland, improving himself in the study of history
and philosophy, and cautiously avoiding any employment
during the usurpation. At the restoration, in 1660, bewaa
chosen a member of the convention in Ireland, and first •
distinguished himself by opposing the polUbill, a very un-
popalar ministerial measure; which be did with so much
independence of spirit, as to furnish a ptiesage of his future
character. In the succeeding parliament, in 1 66 1 , he was
chosen, with bis father, for the county of Csrlow, where
he distinguished himself by voting and speakingx indif*
ferently, as he approved or disapproved their measures,
without joining any party. In 1662 he was cbosei^ one of
the commissioners to be sent from that parliament to the
king, and took this opportunity of waiting on tbe lord
lieutenant, tbe duke of Ormond, then at Lonikm, and seems
at the same time to have now formed tbe design of quitting
Ireland altogether, and residing in England. It was ne-
cessary, huwever,^ to return to Ireland, where on a second/
interview with tbe 4nke of Ormond, then at Dublin, the
duke made extraordinary professions of respect for him,
complaining, *with polite irony, that he was- the only man
in Ireland who had never asked him any thing : and when
he found him bent on going to England, insisted on giving
him letters of recommendation to Ciarendoni ^e lord
chancellor, and to Arlington, secretary of state*
This recommendation was eiFectual with both these
statesmen^ as well as with the king^ although be was not
TEMPLE. ^wd
immediately employed. Sir Willtan^ Temple was never
forgetful t)f this obligation : be constantly kept up a cof'^
respondence with the duke of Ormond, and afterwards
eealousiy defended him against tbe attempt of tiie earl
of Essex to displace btm from the government of Ireland.
In the mean time, during his interviews with lord A rling-*
toD, who seems to have had his promotion at hearty he
itook occasion ta hint to bis lordship, that if his majesty
thought him worthy of any employment abroad, be shoi^ld
be happy to accept it ; but begged leave to object to the
northern climates, to which be bad a great aversion. Lord
^Arlington expressed bis regret at this, because the place
of envoy at Sweden was the only one then vacant. In
1665, however, about tbe commencement of tbe first Dutch
war, lord Arlington commuhicated to bim that his majesjty
wanted to send a person abroad upon an affair of great im*
portance, and advised htm to accept the offer, whether in
all respects agreeable or not, as it would prove an intro-
duction to bis majesty's service. This business was a se-
cret commission to the bishop of Munster, for the purpose
of concluding a treaty between the king, and bim, by which
the bishop should be obliged, upon receiving a certain sum
of money, to join bis majesty immediately in the war with
Holland. ' Sir William made no scruple to accept this co^i-
mission, which be executed with speed and success, and in
the^most private manner, without any train or official cha-
racter. In July he began his journey to Coesvelt, and
not long after it was known publicly, that be had in a very
few days conoluded and signed the treaty there, in which
> his perfect kooyvledge in Latin, which he had retained, lyas
of no little advantage to him, the bishop conversing in ^po
other, language,, > After signing tbe treaty, he went to Bras-
-seb, saw the ^firat) f)ayment made, and received the news
that the bishop was* in the field, by whicb this negotiation
began fir^t^to be discovered ; but. no pcfrson suspected the
part be bad in- it; (and he continued privately at Brussels
till it wais whispered to the marquis Castel-Rodrigo the
governor, that he came upon some particular errand (which
be was then at liberty to own]. Tbe governor immediately
/aent to desire bis acquaintance, and tnat he might see him
in private, to whicb be easily consented. Soon after a
commission was sent bim to be resident at Brussels, a situ-
< ation which be bad long cobtemplated with pleasure, and
bis commission was accompanied with a baronet's patent.
000 T E M P L E.
Sir William now sent for his family (April 1666); but,
before their arrival, was again ordered to Monster, to pre-
vent the bishop's concluding peace with the Dutch, which
be threatened to do, in consequence of some remissness in*
the payments from England, and actually signed it at Cleve
the very night sir William Temple arrived at Munster. On
ibis he returned to Brussels ; and before be bad been there
a year» peace with. the Dutch was concluded at Breda.
Two months after this event, his sister, who resided with
him at Brussels, having an inclination to see Holland, be
went thither with her incognito, and while at the Hague^
became acquainted with the celebrated Pensicnary De
Witt.
In the spring of 1667, a new war broke out between
France and Spain, which rendering Brussels a place of in-
security, as it might fall into the hands of the French, he
seQt his family to Eugland, but remained himself until the
end of the year, when the king ordered him to return pri-
vately to England, and in his way to go secretly, to the
Hague, and concert with the states the means of saving
the Netherlands. Sir William^ whom, Hume says, philo-
liophy had taught to despise the world, without rendering
him unfit for it, was frank, open, sincere, superior to the
little tricks of vulgar politicians ; and meeting in De Witt
with a man of the same generous and enlarged sentiments,
be immediately opened his master's intentions, and pressed
a speedy conclusion. A treaty was from the first nego-
tiated between these two statesmen, with the same cordi-
ality as if it were a private transaction between intimate
companions. Deeming the interests of their country the
same, they gave full ^cope to that sympathy of character
which disposed them to an entire reliance on each otber^s
professions and engagements. The issue was the famosa
triple alliance between England, Sweden, and Holland;
which being ratified Feb. 15, 1668, sir Willianpi Temple
bad orders to return to Brussels, and protpote the treaty
of peace between France and- Spain, then carrying oaa|
, Aix-la-Cbapelle, He was accordingly sent thither in April,
as his majesty's ambassador-extraordinary and mediator,
and brought the affair to a happy conclusion. Soon after,
he was sent ambassador-extraordinary to the States-Gene-
ral, with instructions to confirm the triple alliance, and so-«
Kcit the emperor and German princes, by their ministers,
to enter intoit.^ Being the iirst English ambassador that
TEMPLE. « 501
had been there since king James's time, be was. received
«nd distinguished by every mark of regard and esteem
they could express for his character and person ; and, by
the good opinion he had gained, was able to bring the
States into such measures, as, M. de Witt said, he was sure
•was not in the power of any other man to do* He lived in
confidence with that great minister, and in constant and
familiar conversation with the prince of Orange, then eight-
leen years old. Yet, although he had a diflScuk part to
act, h^ compassed the chief design of his embassy, in
engaging the emperor and Spain in the measures that were
:then desired ; but by this time the measures of his own
court took a new turn ; and though he had observed a dis- ,
position before, to complain of the Dutch upon trifling oc-
casions, yet he suspected nothing till lord Arlington^ in
September 1669, hurried him over, by telling him, as soon
as ;he received his letter he should put his foot into the
stirrup. When he came to his lordship, whom he always
saw the first, and with great eagerness desired to know the
important affair that required his sudden recall, he found
that his lordship had not one word to say to him ; and,
after making him wait a great while, only asked him seve-
ral indifferent questions about his journey ; and next day
he was received as coldly by the king. . The secret, how*-'
jever, soon came out ; and sir William Temple was pressed
to return to the Hague, and make way for a war with Hol-
land, which, less than two years before, he had been so
much applauded for preventing by a strict alliance: but
he excused himself from having any share in it, which so
much provoked the lord treasurer Clifford, that he refused
to pay him an arrear of two thousand pounds, due from his
embassy. All this passed without any particular unkind-
ness from the king; but lord Arlington's usage, so unlike
iQ the friendship be had professed, was resented by sir
William Temple with much spirit. He now retired to his
bouse at Sheen, and employed this interval of leisure in
writing his '^ Observations on the United Provinces," and
pne part of his *^ Miscellanies/'
In 1673, the king, becoming weary of the second Dutch
war, at^d convinced of its unpopularity, sent for sir Wil-
liam Temple, and wished him to go to Holland, with the
offer of the king's, mediation between Frahce and the con*
liederates then at war, which was not long after accepted; .
and in Jime 1674, lord Berkley, sir William Temple, and
SOS TEMPLE.
tir Lioline Jenkins, were declared ambassadcnrf utA medUU
fttorsy and Nimeguen appointed, by general consent, as the
place of treaty. During sir William's -stay at the Ha^ne,
the prince of Orange, who was fond of speaking English,
and of English habits, constantly dined and supped onoe
or twice a week at his house. Sir William insensibly ao-
qoired his Highness's confidence, and had a considerable
hand in his marriage with the princess- Mary, of which be
has said so much in his ** Memoirs.*' One instance of. his
employing his influence with the prince, he used to reckon
amongst the good fortunes of his life. Five Englishmen
happened to be taken and brought to the Hague wliUst he
was there, and in the prince's absence, who were immedi*
ately tried, and condemned by a councU of war, for de-
serting their colours : some of his servants had the cari-
osity to visit their unfortunate countrymen, and came
home with a deplorable story, that, by what they had
heard, it seemed to be a mistake ; and that they were all
like to die innocent ; but, however, that it was without re-
medy, that their graves were digging, and they were to
be shot next morning. Sir William Temple left nothing
vnattempted to prevent their sudden execution; andsent
to the officers to threaten them, that he would complain
first to the prince, and then to the king, who, he was sure,
would demand reparation, if so many of his subjects suf-
fered unjustly : but nothing would move them, till he made
it his last request to reprieve them one day^ during which
the prince happened to come within reach of returning an
answer to a message he sent, and they were released. The
first thing* they did was to go and look at their graves ; and
the next, to come and thank sir William Temple upon their
knees.
In July 1676, he removed his family to Nimeguen, where
he* passed that year without making any progress in the
treaty, which, owing to various circumstaooes,^ was then at
a stand; and, the year after, his ison was sent over with
letters from the lord treasurer, to order him to return and
succeed Mr. Coventry in his place of secretary of states
which the latter made some difficulty of resigning, unless
he had leave to name his successor, which the king re*
fused. Sir William Temple, who was not ambitious of thie
change at this time, requested his' majesty would defer it
until all parties were agreed, and the treaty he was then
concerned in concluded* This business^ howev er^ required
TEMPLE. ^M
kts (iresence in England, and be did not retarn to Nime«
gnen that year. About the same time the prince of Orange
came over and married the lady Mary, which seems to have
occasioned a coolness between sir William Temple and lord
Arlington, the latter being offended at sir William's inti*
macy with the lord treasurer Osbom, who was related to
lady Temple, they two being the only persons intrusted
iwith the affair of the marriage.
Iq the mean time, in 1678, the king, finding that affairs
were not likely to come to any conclusion with France, sent
for sir William Temple to the council, and told him, that
he intended he should go to Holland, in order to form a
treaty of alliance with the States ; and that the purpose of
k should be, like the triple league, to force both France
and Spain to accept of the terms proposed. Temple was
sorry to find this act of vigour qualified by such a regard
to France, and by such an appearance of indifference and
neutrality between the parties. He told the kmg, that the
yesolution agreed on, was to begin the war in conjunction
with all the confederates, in case of no direct and immei«
diate answer from France ; that this measure would satisfy
the -prince, the allies, and the people of England ; advan^"
tages which could not be expected from such an alliance
with Holland alone ; that France would be disobliged, and
Spain likewise; ^nor would the Dutch be satisfied with such
a faint imitation of the triple league, a measure concerted
when they were equally at league with both parties. For
these reasons sir William Temple declined the employ-
ment; and Lawrence Hyde, second son of the chancellor
Clarendon, was sent in bis place ; and although the mea-
sure was notpaliitable to the prince, the States concluded
the treaty in the terms proposed by the king. Just after-
wardii we find the king a little out of humour with sir Wil-
liam Temple; and when the parliament would not^pass
the suppUes without some security against the prevaiesce
of the popish party, the king thought proper to reproach
Temple with his popular notions, 'a^ he termed them ; and
asked him how he thought the House of Commons could
be trusted in carryingon the war, should it he entered on,
when in the very commencement they made such declara-
tions i Sir William, however, was not daunted by tUs re-
proach ; and when the king, thwarted by his parliamtet^
began to lend an ear to the proposals of the king of Fraace,
who offered him great sums of money> if be wouidi consent
£04 TEMPLE.
to France's making an advantageous peace with the allies^
sir William^ though pressed by his majesty, refused to have
any concern in so dishonourable a negociation. He in-
forms us that the king said, there was one article proposed,
which so incensed him, that as long as he lived, he should
never forget it What it was, sir William does not men*
tion ; but dean Swift, who was the editor of his works, in-
forms us, that the French, before they would agree to any
payment, required as a preliminary, that king Charles
should engage ^never to keep above 8000 regular troops in
Great Briuin !
Sir William appears frequently to have retired from
court disgusted with the fluctuating counsels which pre-
vailed there, but was ever ready to lend his aid to measures
which bore the appearance of public advantage : and in
July 1678, upon the discovery of the French design not to
evacuate the Spanish towns agreed on by the treaty to be
delivered up, the king commanded him to go upon a third
embassy to the States, with whom he concluded a treaty,
by which England engaged, upon the refusal of the French
to evacuate the towns in forty days, to declare immediate
war with France : but, before half that time was run out,
one Du Cros was sent from our court into Holland, upon
an errand that again embarrassed the relative state of af-
fairs; and such sudden and capricious changes in our
councils, which sir William Temple had seen too often to
be astonished at, increased his growing distaste to all pub-
lic employment.
In 1679 he went back to Nimeguen, where the French
delayed signing the treaty to the last hour; and after he
had concluded it, he returned to the Hague, from whence
he was soon . sent for to enter upon the secretary's place,
which Mr. Coventry was at last resolved to part with ; and
my lord Sunderland, who was newly come into the other,
pressed him with much earnestness to accept. He very
unwillingly obeyed his majesty's commands to come over,
as he had long at heart a visit he had promised to make
the great duke, as soon as his embassy was ended ; having
begun a particular acquaintance with him in England, and
kept up a correspondence ever since. Besides, having so ill
succeeded in the designs (which no man ever more steadily
piirsued in the course of his employments) of doing his
country the best service, and advancing its honour and
greatness to the height of which he thought it capable, he.
TEMPLE. 203
resolved t6 ask leaVe of the king to retire. At this time^
indeed) no person could engage in public aflPairs witb a
worse prospect ; the Popish plot being newly broke out,
and the parliament violent in the persecution of it, aU
though it is now generally allowed to baVe been an absurd
imposture. On these accounts, although the king, who,
after the removal of the lord treasurer Danby, whom the
parliament sent to the Tower, had no one with whom he
could discourse witb freedom on public affair^, sir Williatn,
alarmed at the universal discontents and^ jealousies which
prevailed, was determined to make. his retreat, as soon as
possible, from a scene which threatened such confusions*
Meanwhile, as he could not refuse the confidence with
which his master honoured him, he represented to the
king, that, as the jealousies of the nation were extreme, it
was necessary to cure them, by some new remedy, and to
restore that mutual confidence, so requisite for the safety
both of the king and people ;^ that to refuse every thing to
tl^ parliament in their present disposition, or to yield
every thing, was equally dangerous to the constitution, as
well as to public tranquillity ; that if the king would intro-
duce into his councils such men as .enjoyed the confideu^*e
of his people, fewer concessions would probably be re-
quired ; or if unreasonable demands were made, the king,
under the sanction of such counsellors, might be enabled,
witb the greater safety, to refusie tbem;> and. that the heads
of the popular party, being gratified with the king's favour,
would probably abate of that violence by which they ea<-
deavoured at present to pay court to the mpltitude.
Tbe king assented to these reasons ; and, in concert
with Temple, laid the plan of a new privy-council, without
whose advice he declared himself determined for the future
to take no measure of importance. This council was to
consist of thirty persons, and was never to exceed that
nunober. Fifteen of the chief officers of the crown were
to be continued^ who, it was supposed, would adhere to the
king, and, in case of any extremity, oppose the exorbitances,
of faction. The other half of the council was to be com-*
posed, either of men of character, detached from the court,
or of those who possessed chi^f credit in both Houses.
The experiment seemed at first to give some satisfactida
to the people ; but as Sbaftesbury was made president of
the council, contrary to the advice of sir William Temple,
the plan upon the whole was of little avail. Temple often
20$ TEMPLE.
joiiied tbem, though he kept himself detached from poUiie
business. When tiie bill was proposed for putting restric**
tions on the> duke of York, as successor to the throne,
fibaftesbury thought them insufficient, and was for a total
exclusion ; but sir William Temple thought them so rigo-
rous as even to subvert the constitution ; and that shackles,
put upon a Popish successor, would not afterwards be
easily cast off by a Protestant.
. In 1680, when the council was again changed, sir Wil-
liam gradually withdrew himself, for reasons which he has
assigned in the third part of his Memoirs ; but soon after
the king sent for him again, and proposed his going am-
bassador into Spain, and giving credit to an alliance pre-
tended to be made with that crown, against the meeting
ot the parliament ; but when his equipage was almost
ready, the king changed his mind, and told him, he would
have him defer his journey till the end of the session of
parliament, of which he was chosen a member for the uni«
▼ersity of Cambridge, and in which the factions ran so
high, that he saw it impossible to bring them to any tern*
per. The duke of York was sent into Scotland : that
would not satisfy them, nor any thing but a bill of exclu-
aion, against which he always declared himself, being a
legal man, and said, his endeavours should ever be to unite
the royal family, but that he would never enter into any
counsels to divide them. This famous bill, after long ooo-
tests, was thrown out, and the parliament dissolved ; and
it was upon his majesty^s taking this resolution without the
advice of his priyy-oouncil, contrary to what he had pro-
mised, that sir William Temple spoke so boldly there, aild
was so ill-used for taking that liberty, by some of those
friends who had been most earnest in promoting the last
change. Upon this he grew quite tired with public busi-
ness, refused the offer he had of serving again forthe uni-
versity in the next parliament, that was soon after called
and met at Oxford, and was even uneasy with the name of
a privy •counsellor, but this he soon got rid of ; for the
duke beine returned, and all the councils changed, lord
Sunderland's, Essex^s, and sir William Templets names
were by the king's order all struck out of the council-book
together. On this occasion he. informed his majesty that
he would live the rest of his life as good a subject as any
in bis kingdom, but never more meddle with public affairs*.
The king assured him that he was not at aU angry^ and
TEMPLE. floy
«ver after received his^visits, when he came lata the neigh-
bourhood of Sheen, with respect : nor was less attention
shewn to sir, William by king James, wb^ used to address
his conversation to bito the moment be s^w him enter the
room of the palace at Richmond*
After this retirement, which occurred in 1685, sir WiW
liam Temple continued a year at Sheen, and, having par«
chased a small seat called Moor-^Park, near Farnbam in
Surrey, which he preferred for its retirement, and the
healthy and pleasant situation, and being much afflicted
.with the gout, and broken with age and infirmities, be re-
fMslved to pass the remainder of his life there ; and in No«
vember 1686, in bis way thither, waited on king Janes^
jthen at Windsor, and begged bis favour. and protection to
one that would always live a good subject, but, whatever
happened, never enter again, upon any public employment;
and desired his majesty never to give credit to whatever he
might hear to the contrary. The king, who used to say
sir William Templets character was always to be believed,
promised him what he desired, made him some reproaches
for not coming Into his service, which he said was his own
fault, and kept his word as faithfully to sir William Tem*
pie, as he did to his m^esty during the turn of aSiairs that
soon after followed by the prince of Orange's coming over,
which is said to have been so great a secret to bin), that he
was not only wholly unacquainted with it> but one of the
last men in England that believed it.
At the time of this revolution in 1688, Moor Park gpow*
ing unsafe by lying in the way of both armies, he went
back to the house he had given up to his son at SbeeOt
whom he would not permit to go and meet the prince of
Orange at bis landing, as this might appear a breach . of
his engagement, never to join in any measure. that seemed
to divide the royal family. After king Jamei^'s abdication,
and the prince's arrival at Windsor, however, sir William
Temple went to wait upon his highness, along with bis son.
On this occasion the prince pressed him to enter into bis
service, and to be secretary of state ; said, it. was in kind*
jiess to him that be had not been acquainted with his de-
sign ; came to him two or three times at Sheen^ and seve*
ral of his friends made him very uneasy, in urging how
much the prince (who was bis friend), bis country, and bis
religion, must suffer by his obstinate refusal to engage in
their defeaee;' adding, that his conduct would give the
2eg TEMPLE.
world an onfavoorable opinion of this great urtdertaking;
and make tbeoi mistrust spme bad design at the bottom^
which a man of his truth and honour did not care to be
concerned in. Sir William, however, continued unshaken
in his resolutions, although very sensible of the trouble and
uneasiness the prince and all his friends expressed ; and
was the more anxious to return to his retirement at Moor
Park, about the end of 1689, that he might be less exposed
ta similar solicitations.
From that time he employed himself wholly in the cares
and amusements of a country life, and saw little company,
but had the honour of being often consulted by king WiU
liam in some of his secret and important affairs, and of a
visit froQ^ him in his way from Winchester, and used to
wait upon his majesty at Richmond and Windsor, where-
he was always very graciously received with that easiness
and familiarity, and particular confidence, that had begun
in Holland so many years before. . . •
Sir William Temple died towards the end of 1700, in his '
seventy-second year, at Moor Park ; where, according to
express directions in his will, his heart was buried in a stU "-
yer box, under the sun-dial in his garden. This sun«dial/
we are told, was opposite to the window whence he used
to contemplate and admire the works of nature with his sis-i-
ter, the ingenious lady Giffard * ; who, as she shared and
eased the fatigues of his voyages and travels during hia
public employments, was the chief delight and cotafort ef
his retiren[>ent in old age, as he had the misfortune to lose
his lady in 1694. As to his person, bis stature was above
the middle size : he was well-set and well-shaped ; his hair
chesnut brown, bis face oval, his forehead large, a <!|irick
pieroing eye, and a sedate and pMlosophical look. ' Those
who have endeavoured to set sir William's <^haracter in^ the
best light, have allowed him to have had some tincfure of
vanity and spleen^ Bishop Burnet has painted him most
unfavourably, allowing him to possess a true judgment in
all affairs, and very good principles with' relation to" govern*
ment, but in nothing else. The bishop adds, that <* he
seemed to think, that things were as they are from all eter-
nity ; at least, he thought religion was fk only for the mob.
He was a great admirer of the sect of Confucius in Cbina>
who were atheists themselves, but left religion to the rab«
« Lady Giffard died io I'^S, at the tgc of 84.^
»^'* ••*
T £ M P L B. sDt
Ue. He was a corrupter of all that came near him : and
he delivered himself 'up wholly to study, ease, and plea«-
sure." Burnet's dislike to sir William Temple seems^
therefore, to hare ^ arisen from a very sufficient cause;
from bis holding and propagating irreligious principles ; but
this, others have not only doubted, but peremptorily de-
nied, and have cited. his beautiful letter to lady Essex, .as a
proof of his piety. Burnet, however, we perceive, allows
him to have been a great statesman ; and, in the very next
words to those just cited, refers his reader for ** an account
of our affairs beyond sea, to his letters ; in which," says
Burnet, *^ they are very truly and fully set forth.*'
Sir William Temple was not only a very able statesman
and negotiator, but also a polite and elegant writer. As
maiiy of his works have been published, at different times,
as amount to two volumes in folio; which have also been
printed more than once in octavo. His '* Observations
upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands," were
published in one volume, 8vo, in 1672. His '^Miscella-
nea," consisting of ten tractsupon different subjects, were
originally published in two volumes, 8vo. One of these
trscts is upon ancient and modern learning ; and what he
advanced there, as it in some measure gave occasion to, so
it involved him in, the controversy, which was soon after
agitated here in England, concerning the superiority of
the ancients and the moderns. His ** Memoirs" also, of
what bad passed in his public employments, especially those
abroad, uiake a very interesting part of bis works. They .
were wriiteo in three parts ; the first of which began with
faiii jourrtey to Munster, contained chiefly his negotiations
of the triple alliance, and ended with his first retirement
from public busiiiess, in 1671, a little before the second
Dutch war. He began the second part with the approaches
of the peace between England and Holland, in 1673, and
concluded it with his being recalled from Holland in Fe-
bruary 1^78-9, after the c<jnclu$i6n of that of Ntmeguen.
The third part contains what passed from this peace to sir
William's retirement. The second part of these '' Me-
moirs" was published in his life* time, and, it is believed,
with bis< consetis ; though it is pretended that cbey were
written only for the use 6f his son, and isent into the world
without his knowledge. The third part was published by
Swift, in 1709, many years after his death. The first
Vol. XXIX. P
210 TEMPLE.
jpart was never pi^blishe^ at all ; apd Swift, in the preCace
to the third, tells us, that *' Sir William often assured
him he had burnt. those Memoirs; and for that reason was
content his letters during bis embassies at the Hague ao^
AiK-la-Chapelle (he ii>jgbt have added Munster) should
be printed aft^r his death, to supply that loss. What, it
was," continues Swift,, " that moved sir William Temple
to burA those first Memoirs, may, perhaps, be conjectured
from some passages in the second part formerly printed,
luione place the author has thes^ words : * My lord At^r
Ijpgton, who made so great a figure in the former part of
tbf^se Memoirs, was now grown but of all <:redit/ &c. la
other parts he tells us, ' That that lord was of the ministrj
which broke the triple-^nlliance, advised the Dutch war ana
French alliance ; and, in sbqrt, was. at th^ bottom of .aU
those ruinous measures which the court, of England was
Uien taking; so that, as I have been -told from a good
hai^d, and as it seems very probable, he ,could not think
that lord a person fit to be celebrated for his ,parc in. for^
fir^ding that famous league, while he was secretary Jq^
j^tate, who had made such counterpaccs to destroy it."' ^ i
In 1693, sir William published an answer to a scurrilous
pamphlet, entitled " A Letter from Mr. du Cros to the lprc[
— — ." This Du Cros bore very impatiently the chjaractei;
which sir William had given him in the second part qf hts
M Memoirs," and wrote the above letter to abuse him for
it* In 1695, he pubUshed << Ad Introduction to the Hjstgry
of. j^ngland :*' in which some few mistakes have been dis-
covered, .as his speaking of William, the, Conqueror abolisk,-
ing the' trial of camp-fight, or duel, who, oh the contrafy^^
introduced it. Not long after his death, pr. Swift, theo
domestic chaplain to the earl of Berkley, who Uved mapy
years as an amanuensis, iu . sir William Temple's family,
pujblished two volumes of his V Letters," containing an acr
coji^pt of the most important transactions that passed in
Christendom, from 1667 tp 1672; and, in 1703^, a third
Yptyme^ containing ^^Letter^ tp king Charles II. the prince
of Orange, the chief ministers of state, and other persons,'*
in octavo. The editor informs us, that these papers were
the last of this or any kind, about which be hi^d received
bis p^artioular commands; and that they ijvere corrected by
hiift)self, and transcribed i,n bi^ lijertime. The lyhol^e .of
bis w9rks were . handsojo^ely reprinted ip A vols. 8vq^. ia
•
TEMPLE. > 211
- Sir William Temple had one son, John Temple, esq^ a
fnan of great abilities and accompUsbmentSy and who, »oon
after the Revolution, was appomted secretary at war by
king William ;' but be had scarce been a week in that of-
fice, when he drowned himself at London-bridge. Thi$
extraordn.ary affiiir happened the I4th of April, 1689;
when Mr. Temple, having spent the whole morning ar his
office, took a boat about noon, as if he designed to go to
Greenwich ; when he had got a little way, he ordered the
waterman to set him ashore, and then finisliing some dis-
patches which he had forgot, proceeded. Before he thre^
himself out, he dropped in the boat a shilling forthe water-
wsan, and a note to this effect :
** My folly ill undertaking whsft I was not able to per-
form, has done the king and kingdom a great deal of pre^
jadice. I wish him all happiness, and abler servants than
JaHN Temple.'*
It was thought, at first, that he meant by this, his inca-
pacity for the secretaryship at war, which he had asked the
king leave to resign the day before ; but the fact was,^ that
he had been melancholy for some months before, and the
great prejudice to the king% affairs, mentioned in his note^
could not be occasione/i by mistakes committed in a place
in which he had yet done little or nothing. Another cause
of bis melancholy is assigned, which carries nK>re probabi-
lity. General Richard Hamilton being upon suspicion
confined in the Tower, Mn Temple visited him sometimes
u]pOn the score of a former acquaintance: when discourse
ing upon the present juncture of affairs, and how to pre-
fent the effusion of blood in Ireland, the general said,
**That the best way was, to send thither a person in whom
Tyrconnel could trust ; and he did not doubt, if such a
person gave hnn a true accoant of things in England, he
woiild readily submit/^ Mr. Temple communicated this
overture to the king, who approving of it, and looking upon
general Hamilron to be the properest person fdr such a
service, asked Mr. Temple whether he cfould be trusted^
Temple readily engaged his word for him, and Hamilton
was sent to Ireland ; but, instead of discharging his com-
mission and persuading Tyrconnel to submit, he encou-
raged him as much as possible to stand out, and offered
him his assistance, which Tyrconnel gladly accepted. Mr.
Temple contracted an extreme inela^choly upori R^miU
ton's desertion ; although the king assured him he was coiik
P 2
214 T E M P L E M A N.
oret with proper encoumgement from the public, it was
bif intention to bare extemied the work to twelve vokuBes,
with an additional, one of index, and that he waa prepared
to publish two such volumes every year. Histransl8tii>n of
*^ Nofden's Travels" appeared in the beginning of 1757 ;
aYid in that year he was editor of *- Select Cases and Con**
sultations in Physic, by Dr. Woodward," 8vo. On the
astablishment of the British Museum in 1753, he was ap-
pointed to the ofiice of keeper of the reading-room, wbick
he resigned on being chosen, in 1760,* seetetary to €h<$
then newly instituted Society of Arts, Manufactures, an4
Commerce. In 1762 be was elected a corresponding mem^
ber of the Royal Academy of Science of Parts, and aisi^ of
the CEconomical Society at Berne. Very early in life I>r;
Templeman was afflicted with severe paroxysms of an
asthma, which eluded the force of all that either bi«r owil
skill, or that of the most eminent physicians then livings
could suggest to him ; and it continued to harass ^hitk^ till
his death, which happened September 2S, 1769. 'He wtt
esteemed a man of great learning, particularly with reaped
tb languages; spoke French with great fluency^ and left
the character of a humane, generous, and poUte member
t>f society.
. It may not be improper to distinguish Dr. Tempienan
from Mr. Thomas Templeman, the author of ^< Eogva^ed
Tables, containing calculations of the number Of scjtiatre
feet and people in the several kingdoms «^ the World f^
who was a .writing-master in the town of St. Edmund'a
Bury,' where he died May 2, 1729. Both are^often con-
founded, and the latter often appears In quotations with
the doctor's degree of the former. '
' TENCIN (Claddine, Alexandrine, Gtreotsi,' de), a
lady of considerable talents, tobk the habit of a religious
St the monastery of Montfl«uri, near Grenoblei Becoming
tired of that mode of life, she went to' Paris, where she
lived in the world, and solicited a bull from the pope to
authorize this unusual proceeding. With cardinal Lam-
bertini, afterwards Benedict XIV. she was on good terms^
and he gave her no molestation. Her bouse at> Pavts' was
the general meeting' of all who had wit, or wished to have
mke credit of it. The gaiety of her society was« however,
disturbed by some unfortunate adventures ; particularly by
*
* Nichols's Bowyer.
T E .N C I N.
2l#.
tbe» death of La ^Fre^aye, a counsellor of sl^ate^ who ws^^
killed in jier.apart^aient. Mademoiselle TeDcin waa prpsci-.
€bted as coni^erned in the murder, and was confined 6fSit
in the Chatelety and afterwards in the Bastille; but was, at.
length discharged as innocent. She died at Paris in 1749,
being then a good deal advanced in years. She appeared
as an author in several instances, and produced, 1. ^^ JLe.
Siege de Calais," a romance, of considerable delicacy and
g^ius, thoughjiQt without faults. 2. '^ Memoires de Com-
mingesy" i2mo, another novel which has had its admirers*
^ nephew of M..de Tenoin, M. Pont-de-veste, had some
share, in both. these productions. 3. ^^ Les Malheurs de
yAjDour," a novel, ^ia which some, have supposed that she
describes a part of her own history, 4. *^ Anecdotes oC
Sdward Il.'Va posthumous work, published in 1776. All
berwprks wece published at Paris in 17S6, in seven small
yoiumes^ ]2mo.'
T£NI£RS (David), a< Flemish painter, was born ^t
Antwerp, in 1582, and received the first rudiments of his
afjbXram the famous Rubens, who considered him, atlength,
i«s;;his most deserving scholar. On leaving Rubens, he
iifigan io be muck employed ; and, in a little time, was in
a condition to take a journey to Italy. At Rome he fixed
iMmself with Adam Elsheimer, who was then in great vogue ;
bi* whose manner he became a. thorough master, without
«ieglecting at. the same time the study of other great
H^asteri, and endeavouring to penetrate into the deepest
.mysteries oftheir practice. An abode of tea years in Italy
eiiobled.bim to become one of the first in bis style of paint-
ing; aoda happy union in the schools of Rubens and £1*
sheimer formed in him a manner as agreeable as divertiug.
When Teoiers retiJMrhed to his own country, he entirely
employed Irimself in painting small pictures, filled with
figures of persons drinking, chemists, fairs, and merry-
makings, with a number of country meo aad women. He
.spread so much taste and truth through his pictures, that
£bw painters have ever. produced a juster effect. The de-
maad for them was universal ; and even his master Ruben&
thought them an ornament, to bis cabinet,; which wfis^
^'higfa.a compliment as could belaid tbem. Teoi^r^. drew
Jbia own cbiiracier. in Ua pictures^ and in all hi)> ^bjfiiRts
crvery thing tends to joy and pleasun?. ^fi^ wasj ^)^f ^^ em-
I Diet. HJitj-^hesterfi^ld't Mistellanies.
ii«
t E N I E R 8.
ptoy«d in eopjring after aatiire, Whatooefer preflenled iuelf;
and be accustomed bU two sons to follow bit example, ^ui
to paint nothing but from tbat in&llible models by wbiob
iDeans they botb became excellent painters. Tbeseara
the only disciples we know of this David Tenters, styled
the elder, who died at Antwerp in 1649, aged sijffty-eeven. *
TENIERS (David), son of the precedingy was born at
Antwerp in 1610, and was nick<>named <' The Ape oi
Painting;** for there was no manner of painttog tbat be
could not imitate so exactly, as to deceive even the nicest
jadges. He improved greatly on the talents and merit oC
bis father, and his reputation introduced him to the fairour
of the great. The archduke Leopold William made bmk)
gentleman of his bedchamber; 'and all the pictures of bis)
gallery were copied by Teniers, and engraved by bis di<iC
rection* Teniers took a voyage to England,' to buy several:
pictures of the great Italian masters for count Fuenaain
degna, who, on his return, heaped favours on hi m^ Dfon
John of Austria, and the king of Spain, set so great. al
value on his pictures, that they built a gallery on ^uirpose^
for them. Prince William of Orange iKmoured bim withe
his friendship ; Rubens esteemed his works, and assisittfA
him with his advice. In his tbirty^fifth year be was io hia
zenith of perfection* His principal talent was landscape, ^
adorned with small figures. He painted men. drinking and:
smoking, chemists, and their laboratories, country fairr,\
and the like : bis small figures are superior to 4)ia large
ones. The distinction between the works of the £siber
and theaon is, fhatih the son's you discover a finieir ceticb.
and a fresher pencil, and a greater choice, of attiiades, and
a better disposition of figures. Tbe father retained some* :
thing of the tone of Italy in his colouring, wbicb was;
stronger than the son's, but his pictures bave less barmonjr^
and union; besides, the son used to put at tbe bottom of *
bis pictures, *< David Teniers, junior.'' He died at Aiit*
werp in 1 694, aged eighty*four. Sir Jostuia Reynolds says, :
that the works of this artist are worthy tbe elosest attention
of a painter who desires to excel in. the opecfaanical know-' '
ledge of bis art^ His manner of touching, or wbat we caU \
bandling, has perhaps never been equalled : there is in hia z
pictures tbat exact mixture of softness and sbatpaess, wbiclK .
is difEii;iiU to execute. . -\ : : r.
T E N 1 E B a; iif
Hfa wither AlRiiflAJf was « good painter ; 4^l]fi1; if nol
superior, to bis iuiber and brother in- the expression of bis
(Dbaractersy and knowledge of the chiaro-scuro, though in-
ferior in the sprigbtUness of his touchi and the lightness of
bis pencil. '
TENISON (THOMAff), a learned and worthy prelate^
tiM^ son of the rev. John Tenison, B. D. by Mary, daughter
6§ Tboinas Dowson of Cottenbam inr Cambridgeshire, wi^
born at that place Sept; 29, 1636. His father was reotoe
of Af uncksley in Norfolk, whence be was ejected for bit
adberewee to Charles I. At the restoration, according to
Dr. Kenned, be became rector of Bracon-Ash, and died
there in V671, bat Mr. Masters apprehends that he was rec«
tor of Toperoft in Norfolk in 1646, and by Le Neve wia
find ibat in 1712, hie son, the subject of the present ar-*
tiele, at the exp^ftce of 340/. rebuilt the chancel of Top«*
oeoft church, where bis father and mother, are buried.
" Young Tenison was first educated at the free-school «t
Norwich, whieh was then in great reputation, under Mr.
Loyering , the master. From this school, at the age of
seventeen, be was admitted a scholar upon archbishop
Barker's foundation, of BeneH college, Cambridge, where
be look bis degree of A. B. in Lent term, 1656-7 ; and thef
stw^y of diniriiy being at that time interrupted, at least as
to its ordinary process, he began to study medicine, but
on the eve of the restoration he procured himself to be pri-
vately ordained at Richmond in Surrey, by Dr. Duppa,
bisbop of Salisbury. In 1660,^ the year following, he pro-»
ceeded M. A. and being by virtue of a pre-election, ad-*
mitted felbw of bis college, March 24, 1662, be became
tutor, and in J 665 was chosen one of the university
preachers, and about the sanae time was presented by the
dealt and chapter of Ely to the cUr^ of St. Andrew the^reat
in Cambridge.
Ht had not long held this last situation before t<be plague
broke out and dispersed the members of the college, and
probably soone ofitbe inhabitants of his parish, but Mr. Te-
nison remained' fa^cQllege, with only two scholars, and a
few servants, dering the whole of the calaoiity, and con-
scientiously perfohned bis parochial duties, without neg*
lettcing sooh'^ipracautions as the faculty at that time pre-
scribed. His parishioners were so sensibly struok with this
1 Argenville, y^l 2II.-->Pilkin^n.«-3ir J. Reynoldv** Works.
«
/
SIS r E N I S O N.
efibrt o( piety and courage, as to prevent him with- a band-
some piece of plate when be left tbem in 1667. * In pensem^
brance of their kindness, he gave them, a short time before
bis death, the sum of 50/. towards repairing their church.
In this last mentioned year, 1667, be proceeded B. D»
He bad for some time served bis futher's cure at Bracon«
asbe, and quitted St. Andrew's in Cambridge on being pre-
sented to the rectory of Holywell and Nedingwoitb in Hun-
tipigdonshire, by Edward, earl of Manchester. This noble^
liian had before that time placed his son Thomas under bis
tuition in the college, and afterwards appointed Inm hiit
chaplain, in which relation he was likewise continued by
bis successor,' earl Robert. About the same time be mar«
ried Anne, daughter of Dr. Richard Love, some time mllst-^
ter of .Bene't college. In 1670 his first publication ap«9
peared, under the title of '* Th6 creed of Mr. Hobbea eis^
amined, in a feigned conference between him and. a sin-v
dent in divinity," 8Vo* This, which is said to have beeaii
{Published to obviate an absurd calumny, that .be^iwas a fa>*
vourer of Hobbes, affords a very excellent refutation! c»l
that autbor^s principles. v-'v
' In 1674, the parishioners of St. Peter's Manscrofti^ in
Norwich, chose him their upper minister, with a.salary^of
100/. a year. In 1 678 he published his .^^Diseourse of Iife^
]atry/' and the year following, some irapubbshed.remaio^of
lord Bacon, under the title *^ Baconiana," witb^a ptefMH
giving an excellent analysis of his lordship's works. la I48Q
he took his degree of D. D. and in Ootoberof <the«ame yiiat^
was presented by Charles II. being then one of bis m»h
jesty's chaplains, to tbe vicarage of St. Martians ^i<n the
Fields. Here he cotitinued the measures wliiebDri Lloyd
his predecessor had adopted to cheek tbe gsevn^tb of 4>opery,
abd became the founder of our parochial cb^rity-aGboola.
He also founded a library. Dr. Kennethsays that in this
office, Dr. Tenison did as much good as pferbaps it was.
possible for one man to do, and the writer -<of bis life assttres
us that there were not above two persons in bis parishwbo
turned Roman catholics while be was vicar. Indeed tbia
large and important cure extending to Whitehall, and .the
whole court, rendered an unusual portion of xrourage. aa4
perseverance necessary in watching the pcoeeedings of the
popish party, who bad too many friends in the highest sta*
tion. Dr. Tenison, however, undautu^i^lily:, to6R SfeSsliiife
in the controversy which their conduct procfuced, and wils
T E N I S O N: 219
sooti fnatked as arixantagonistjiot to be despised. In 16^1
be preached and pubiisiied ** A Sermon of Discretion in
giving alms," wMich being attacked by Andrew Pulton, who
was at the head of the Jesuits in the Savoy, Dr. T^iison
wrote a defence of it. In June 1684 an attempt was made
to entrap him into an obscure house, on pretence of his
receiving there some information respecting the murder of
sir Edmondbury Godfrey ; but by the precaution he took,
this des'rgh, whatever it might be, was defeated. In this
year h<f published "The difference between the protestiant
and the Socinian methods,'' in answer to a book written by
a ^api^t entitled *♦ The Protestant's plea for a Socinian.'*
In f^emean titne, in 1683, be had rivalled that party in
their grace of charity, by distributing upwards of 300/. for
the relief of his poor parishioners during the hard frost.
He also now completed tbe designs before mentioned, of
endowing a charity-school, and setting up a public library,
both which still exist.
^ In I6S5, he attended the unfortunate duke of Monmoutb,
l^y bid glee's desire, both. before, and at the time of bis
execution ; and Burnet tells us that he spoke to his grace
with a freedom becoming his station, both as to the duke's
|nibtic conduct and private life, yet with such prudence
and circumspection, as to give no offence.- In 1687, Dr^
TetMsbn held^a^'Conference with Andrew Pulton, his oppo-
nent'before Uientioned, respecting the pr^testant religion,
il^taii of which be afterwards published under the title of
**iA true account of a Conference held about Religion at
hamiMky tSept. 29, 1687, between Andrew Pulton*, Je&juit,
iiltd 'IThomas -Tenison, D. D. as also that which led to it,
and ibltd^^ after it," Lond. 1687.- Soon aftier Dr. Teni-
^on fmblished the following tracts, arising from this con*-
ib^Moe, or connected with the popish controversy in ge-
neral: ** A Gaide in matters of Faith, with respect espe*-
dially to the Romish practice of such a one as is ibfallible ;"
^ Mr. Pulton considered in his sincerity, reasonings, and
sititfaorities ; or, a just answer to what he has hitherto pub-
lished in his true and full account of a conference, &c. his
i^marks, and in them his pretended confutation of what he
calls Dr. T.'s (Dr. Tillotson's) Rule of Faith ;"« Six Con-
ferences concerning the Eucharist, wherein is shewed, that
ft
-« : ■ • • ■
, *^ Dodd, 10 his Ciiarch,Hi)S,torf, meDtioQt ibis Andrew Pulton sligbily, and
•« dfstini^uishedoikly for his cottfertioce with Dr. Tenlson. See Dodd, vol. III.
120 T E N 1 S O N.
the doctrine of Traiisubstantiation overthrows the proofs of
the Christian religion/' frotn the Flrench of La Placette ;
*<The Difference between the Church of England and the
Church of Rome ; in answer to a book written by a Ro-
manist, entitled The Agreement between them ;" and *^ An
Examination of Bellarmine*s tenth note of holine;»s of life.**
About this time Dr. Tenison preached a sermon at the
funeral of the famous Nell Gwynn, one of Charles II.'s
mistresses, whom he represented as a penitent. This drew
upon him some censure ; and perhaps the measure was not
a very prudent one, even supposing the fact of her peni-
tence to be as be represented. His enemies, however,
could hot have many just objections to what he said, as
they were reduced to the meanness of publishing a false
copy of the sermon, against which Dr. Tenison advertised.
In 1680^ a considerable sum of money, we are not told by
whom, was deposited in bis hands, jointly with Dr. Simon
Patrick, to be laid out in works of charity, according to
their discretion; and after distributing some part of it ac-
cordingly in charitable uses, they settled the remainder as
a kind of fund for augmenting the insufficient maintenance
of poor vicars. This they managed themselves for some
years, dividing the sum of 100/. among twenty vicars, half
of the diocese of Canterbury, the other of Ely, at the equal
rate of 5L to each vicar; but in 1697 they assigned over
the whole stock, amounting to 2400/. to sir Nathan Wright,
lord keeper of the great seal, and other trustees, ft^r the.
^ame purposes.
Resuming his pen against popery. Dr. Tenison now pub-
lished five more treatises or tracts on the subject, entitled
**The Introduction to Popery not founded in Scripture;"
** An answer to a letter of the Roman catholic soldier;''
** Speculum Ecclesiasticum ; or an ecclesia^itical prospec-
tive glass considered in its faUe reasonings and quotations ;**
"The incurable Scepticism of the Church of Rome," trans-
lated from Placette; and <*The Protestant and Popish way
gf interpreting Scripture, impartially compared, in answer
to Pax vobis, &c." alt in 4to, and published in 1688 or
1689. We are told that, notwithstanding his zeal in this
cause, he was so much respected at court, thdt James IL
was induced, out of regard to him, to take off the suspension
which that infatuated monarch had laid upon Dr. John Sharp
(See SHAttP, vol. XXVII. p. 400) ; "but there is more reason
to think that this, on the king^s part, was an attempt at
T E N I S O N. £21
•oaciliation^ when he found ho^ unpopular that and bk
other measures in favour pf popery were.
In the succeeding reign, Dr. Tegison is said to have acr
quired favour at court, on account o£ his moderation towards
the dissenters. He was one of those who dwelt fondly oft
the hopes of a comprehension, as it was called, to be effect*
ed partly by a review of the Liturgy. Immediately after
the revolution, he was promoted to be archdeacon of Lou*
•don, and was appointed one of the commissioners to pre-
pare matters towards reconciling the dissenters for the con-
vocation. He even wrote a defence of it, entitled ^^ A Dis-
course on the Ecclesiastical commission, proving it agree-
able to the word of God, useful to the convocation, &c.**
168i), 4to, but he soon found the main object to be un-
attainable, neither party being satisfied with the proposed
alterations in the liturgy* It was this endeavour to conci-
liate the dissenters which is said to' have induced queen
Mary to solicit that he might have the bishopric of Lincoln,
to which be was accordingly nominated Nov. 25, 1691, and
consecrated at Lambeth, Jan. 10 following. The writer of
his life, in Bvo, tells us that the earl of Jersey, then master
pf the horse to her majesty, endeavoured as much as pos-
sible to prejudice Dr. Tenison in her majesty's opinion, in.
order to gain her interest for his friend Dr. John Scott, rec-
tor of St* Giles's in the fields ; and represented to her ma-
jesty, who was speaking of Dr. Tenison in terms of respect,
that he had preached a funeral sermon, in which he had
spoken favourably of Mrs. Eleanor Gwyn, one of king
Charles lid's mistresses. *^ What then ?" said the queen,
^/ I have beard as much. This is a sign, that that poor
unfortunate woman died penitent; for if I can read a man's
heart throt^gh his looks, had she not made a truly pious
and Christian end, the doctor could never have been in-
duced to speak well of her.*'
He bad ho^ been seated in this see above two years,
^hetijt upon the death of Dr. Marsh, he was offered the
archbishopric of Dublin; but be made it the condition of
bis . acceptance, that the impropriations belonging to the
estates itben forfeited to the crown, should be all restored
to the respective parish churches. The king thought this
yery reasonal^le, but the difficulties were found so grea|
t^at i^ never could b^ carded into execution ^ and Instead
f^ft being translated into Ireland, bishop Tenison was raised
i^ I694^.fippp the de^th of Dr. Tillolson, to thp see ol
ISS T £ N I S O N.
Canterbury. Dr. Kentiet observes, that upon the death dt
archbishop Tillptson, ** it was the solicitous care of the
Court to fill up the see of Canterbury. The first pei:son
that seemed to be offered to the eye of the world, was Dr.
StillingBeet, bishop of Worcester; but his great abilities
had raised some envy and some jealousy of him : and, in-
deed, his body would not have borne the fatigues of such a
station. Even the bishop of Bristol, Dr. John Hall, mas*
ter of Pembroke college, Oxford, was recommended by a
great party of men, who had an opinion of his great piety
and moderation. But the person most esteemed by their
majesties, and most universally approved by the ministry,
and the clergy, and the people, was Dr.Tenison, bishop of
Lincoln, who had been exemplary in every station of his
life, had restored a neglected large diocese to some disci*-
pline and good order, and had before, in the office of a
parochial minister, done as much good as, perhaps, was
possible for any one man to do. It was with gre-at impor*
tunity, and after rejecting better offers, that he was pre-
'vailed with to take the bishopric of Lincoln ; aird it was
with greater reluctancy, that he now received their majesties'
desire and command for his translation to Canterbury.
Burnet speaks much to the same purpose, although his
opinion of Dr. Tenison seems never to have been very
high ; and adds, that at this time ** he had many friends,
and no enemies."
* Soon after his promotion to the archbishopric, queen*
Mary was seized with the small pox, which proved fiactal,'
and at her desire archbishop Tenison attended her during
her illness, was present at her death, and preached a fune*
ral sermon, which is said to have given some offence, and
was severelycensured in a letter to his grace by Dr. Ken^
the deprived bishop of Bath and Wells, who maintained
that the archbishop was guilty of neglect of duty in not
having represented to her majesty when on her death-bed
" the gr«^at guilt she lay under by her conduct at the re*
volution.-* Of this letter, Dr.Tenison took no notice, for
which few will now blame him. A ** Defence of his Ser-
irtort" wail afterwards published by his friend Dr. John
Withams. But if Dr. Tenison failed in bringing the queen
to repentance for ** the revolution,'* he is said to have pro-
duced some good effects on the king's disposition.* W*hen
the queen died, William was deeply affected, and impressed
With ^rf sefious notions, which, we are told, Dr.Tenison
' TEN ISDN. 229
■
^ncourag^d^ * aud .in one ioslnnce (the king^s iliieit. om^
nectioo with iaiiyVilliers) urged the beinousness o£ that
crime with suqh power, that, if we may believe Whi«totS^
bis majesty promised nev^ tO; seetbat lady more. Tbe
archbishop is also said to have been instrumental in healing
some differences in the royal family, especially respecting
tbe settlement of the princess Anne of Denmark. .
1 The several injunctions and circular letters to his clergy
for preserving .the order and discipline of the church, and
for healing tbe animosities that arose in bis time respect?-
ing the doctrioe. of tbe Trinity, are such as have been
thought to reflect honour on his high station. It was in
his timej too, that tbe disputes occurred respecting the
distiuct powers of tbe two^houses of convocation, which
proved ultimately tbe ruin of that assembly, so that, as has
been justly remarked, while every other church and every
sect, has its synods, or other assemblies of tbe kind, the
church of England has no longer any thing preserved but
the mere forqa.of meeting and breaking up.
^ In 16^6> be gave a signal proof of his zeal for the re-i
vplivtion in tbe ^ase of sir John Fenwick's attainder. Oil
this occasion,, when the celebrated Mr. Nelson requested
bis vote against that bill, the equity of which was much
disputed, the aixbhisbop said, ^^ My good friend, give me
leave to tell you, .that I know not what spirit this man, noi>
I, am of. i wish for his, nor no man's blood : but bow can
I do my dut^ to Cod and the king, should I declare a man
innocent (for my. not being on. the side of the bill will conw
vince the world that I think him so) when I am satisfied in my
conscience,, not only from Goodman's evidence, but all the
convincing testimonies in the worlds that he is guilty. Laws '
ex post facto jn^y indeed carry tbe face of rigour with them;
but, if ever, a law was necessary, this is.V . :.
In 1700| bis grfice obtaiued a commission, authorizing,
liimy jointly .with the archbishop of York,, and four othec
prelates,. vi^. Bprnet.of Salisbury, Lloyd of Worces^r, Pa-<>
trick. pf £ly, and Moor .of Norwich, to cecoooimend to Jhi».
majesty,, proper persons for all the eccle&iasudal pr^feiK*
ment^ inj his. gift, above (be. value of 20/. pen an».<in the;
book.of first fruits and tenths. He, continued in the/stmer
favo.qr at court until the death of king William, whomhcw
cpQ^antly attended. in his illness, aod preivailed, with hioii.
t^ put tbe ia^t hand. to a bill for tbe beti^r security of tbe^
pi^ote^tant ^ucce^sion* In conaequenoe of hi* s^a«ioj>, be
tSi T E N I S O N.
had the boROiir of crowning queen An net ^^^ ^ iMit en*
joj much favour at her court. During the first three yean
of her reign he steadily opposed the bill to prevent occa^
•ional conformity. At the same time he was not neglectful
of what concerned the welfare of the established churcbyi
and engaged Dr. White Kennet, afterwards bishop of Peter«
boruugh, to write ** The case of Impropriations^ &c." in,
consequence of the queen's halving given the first fruitt
for augmenting the maintenance of the poorer clergy. Iq
1705^ he wrote a letter to the princess Sophia, acquaint*
ing her with his own zeal in particular, and that of ber»
friends, for the security of the Hanover succesttion, to
which he received au answer, in which her highness gave
some intimation of her desire to come *to England at that
juncture. Tbis letter of hers was published some time
after, together with one from sir Rowland Gwynn to the .
earl of Stamford, upon the same subject of the princess'f
coming over ; which last being voted by both houses to be
a scandalous libel, tending to create misunderitandinga be*
tween her majesty and the princess Sophia, the publisher^
Charles Gitdon, was fined 100/. by the court of queen's
bench. But notwithstanding that our archbishop'* aeal in
this matter could not.be very agreeable to her mi^ty,
who was always averse to the notion of a visit firom the
electress, yet in April 1706 he was nominated first com*
jnissioner in the treaty of union between England and
Scotland. The same year, he concurred with the majo-
rity of the lords in their resolution against those who iu*
sinuated that '^ the church was in danger,"
On the death of queen Anne he was appointed one of the
three officers of s^ate in whose bands were lodged, by au«
thority of parliament, one of those instruments empower--
ing her successor, if abroad at the time of her demise, to
appoint auch regents as be should think proper, to continue
the administration in his name till his arrival. He had
afterwards the honour of crowning George I. and of being
admitted to a private conference \«ith him. This was, how-
ever, bis last attendance on that prince, as his infirmities,
and particularly frequent attacks of the gout, rendered it
necessary for him to live as retired as possible at his palace
at Lambeth, where he died Dec. I*!*, 1715, in the seventy*
ninth year of bis age. He was interred privately in the
chancel of the church of Lambeth, and in the same vauh
with his wife,^ who died the Receding year, leaving him
T E N I S o N.. aas
I
.without issue. By hi$ will he bexju^atbed very large sums
to charitable purposes, and proved a liberal benefactor to
.Bene't college, Cambridge, the library of St, Paul's ca«
ihedral^ the society for the propagation of the gospel,
queen Anne's bounty, Bromley Ci^Hege^ &c. The residue
of his fortune, which was very considerable, he ord^r^d to
be equally divided among the children of bis kinsmen, Dr.
Edward Tenison (afterwardsbishopofOssory), Mr. Richard
Tubby, and Mr. George Fage.
■' The author of the ** Memoirs of his Life*' says, he was a
]kelate ^^ who, through the whole course of his life, always
practised that integrity and resolution ha first set out with;
Xior was he influenced by the changes of the age he lived
in-, CO act contrary to the pure and peaceab^ti spirit of Ui^
gospel, of which he was so bright an ornament." , He add%
that he was *^ an exact pattern of that exemplary piety,
charity, steadfastness, and good conduct requisite in a go*
vernor of the church." Dr. Richardson, in bis e(i|ition of
Godwin's Lives of the Bishops, at first brought a serious
charge against Dn Tenison for neglecting the fairest opt
portunity of introducing the ecclesiastical polity of the
church of England into the kingdom of Prussis^ ; but h^
w«s afterwards so fully convinced of the injustice of tbi#
jcfiafge, a^ to alter the page of his wprk in which it wa$
brought forward, and lay the blame upon those to whom
it more ptoperly belonged. Swift appears to have spokeu
wi Ai' great di^espect of archbishop Teoison, for which no
better reaa(on can be given than his prejudices against the
whigS| to which p$rty Tenison was supposed to belong ;
^iid is s'aiii to have furnished some hinjts for Steele's me«
morttble ** Crisis," for which the latter was expelled the
House of Commons. The archbishop, however, had ad <^
milkers in many of bis contemporaries^ especially Dr. Garth, '
who has introduced him in the 2nd canto of the Dispen-:
sary, with a handsome compliment, in the form of a com^
pbiint from E'^ivy : ■ '
.1
^' Within this isle for ever must I find
Disasters to distra^^t my restless liiind ?
Good Tenison *s celestial piety
/At last has raised him to the sacred see.**
The celebrated nonconformist Baxter likewise held bjm;
in admiration. Besides the works already mentioned, he
pobHflihed sonfe occasional sermons, anel'i^suppOi^ed to have,
be«n the au^bpr of a trafct entitled '< Grievances 9f tbe*^
Vol. XXIX. Q
S26 T E R B U R G H.
Cburcfa oF England, which are not in the power q( the g<^
pernors to remedy/* '
TERBURGH (Gbrard), a Dulch painter, was born in
I608^at Zwol^ nearOTeryssel. He learned ibe artof painting
ander his father, who had passed some years at Rome. He
travelled over the chief part of Europe, and was every
where much encouraged. His subjects were usually con^
▼ersations, persons employed in games, or in humorous
adventures. His colouring is lively, and bis pictures highly
finished. But he is not thought equal ^ther to Mieris or
Gerard Dow, in the same style. He died in 1681, at the
age of seventy «three. •
TERENTIANUS (Mauaus), was a Latin poet and gram^
marian, whose age is not ^cactly known, unless be Vas the
Posthumus Terentianus to whooi Longinus dedi^atlEsd * his
admirable treatise on the sublime, and wbdm^Martial ^e«»
}ehrates as prasfect of Syene, in Egypt. Both these.tfaifi^
are uncertain, hut both have been affirmed by Vossilis,
and others. Some have also ealled brm a'Canhaginfaa;
that he was a Moor, he himself tells us, and thence be ia
called Maurus. Certain it is, that he was earlier than St;
Augustin, who quotes him, De Civ« Dei, ri.. 2. He wrote
a most el^ant poem in various measures, ^^ De Uteris^ syl*>
labis, pedibus, et metris," addressed to his son Bissinnii^
and his son-in-law Novatemus, which gives a tridy pleasing
impression of his genius, and admirably exemplifies tbh
precepts it delivers. This poem is stUl estanlV' having
been found in a monastery at Bobbio, in the Milanese^ bj
G. Morula. It was first published by him at Milan, with
Ausonius, in 1497^ afterwards by Janus Parrhastu8,>and
Nic. Brissoius ; then by Jacobus Micyllus, at Francfort^
1584, in 8vo. It appeared also in the ** Gi*ammatici ve^
teres," of Putscbius, published at Hanau, in 1605^ 4 to;
*knd in the *^ Corpus omnium veterum' Poetarum Romanoi^
mm," Geneva, 1611, 2vols. 4to.^
TERENTIUS (PuB*.ius), or TERENCE, an aneient
dramatic writer among the Romans, was a native of Car<^
thage, and bora in the year of Rome 560. ^ He was brought
earlj to Rome, among other slaves, and fell into the bands
of a generous master, Terentius Lucanus, a Roman se*
aator, who was to taken with his uncommon parts, that be
, '^1 Memoirs of the L\h hb^ Tiol^i of, Svo, ao date.— Bio;. Brit.-*— MMls^'a
Hist, of C. C. C. C.
.^ Kilh&DfiMi^ » MorcrK-i^VottHiP.— >Sa»i Qaoiaact.
fEttriSTTlUS. 327
gaveliidi foster goad lectoeatioiiy mud afterwards bis liberty.
He received his name, as well as hi^ libert^^ from Teren-i'
tiur iiuoanus, as the oosufm ivasr; and thii?, by a singular
fatality, says inafdain Bacier/ urfaale he faas imaiortalized tlie
aiame of bis master, bebas not been abie to preserve his own.
ihs merit soosi recqmdiencled him to the acquaintance and
iamiliartty^of' the ehief Tiobility ; and such was his friend-
ship, with Scipio and LeeHus, that his rivals iand enemies
(ooko<K»isi0n from tbeoce to say that his plays were com-
posed b^y tbeae noblemen. Suetonius relates a story from
£)ortieiius Nepos,. whtbli may ^eem to confirm such a sur«
mise: it is, that on the 1st of March, which was the feast
<if-«tfieHoman ladies, Lselius being desired by his wife to
sup a little soouer than ordinary, he prayed her not to
distari) him; and that, coming very late to supper that
lught, h^^aid ke bad nerer composed any thing with more
{deasuneand siiccess ; when, bekig asked by the company
what it was, be lepeBZeA some verses out 4^f the third scene
ot'tbe loQftfa aet in the ^* Heaulpntimoromenos." Terence
takes tiertice of this report in his prniogiie to the ^^ Adeipbi;'-
and does ttot offer to refute it; but Snetonius says that he
forboreyin complaisance to his patrons, who might possibly
not be displdjtsed with it; and, indeed, in the prologue to
ihe *^ HeautoHtfrnorumenos,^' Terence desired the auditors
potf to credit the slanderous reports of bis brother writers.
it is very possible that Scipio and Ltelius might sometimes
amuse themselves with composing a scene or two for u
poet, with wboar they conversed, so familiarly ; but the
plays were certainty Terence's.
^ We have six of them remaining, and probably one or
(wp are lost^ for the ^'Andria" does not Seem to have been
has first4 The very prologue to this play intinrates the
contrary; and thecircumstuicejrelatedby Saetoriiias, about
Tenenc^^s readtiig^ his fira^ piece Co Csecilin^, proves the
** Andria^' not to have been it, « and: that Suetonius Jias mis^
tdken ihe:nai3t)e of the play ; 'for ^GefGiliicsLUied twb years
before the *^ Andria'^ was brought one the stage; CaBcitius
was th6 best poet of the age^ and near founridore nh»ti
Terenee oiiened fab fir^ play ; mndv'Tegardiiwiib'patdto
Im judgment, and ^ ^erefpre>the sediie .ofitfRed Kierent^tl
H» wait upon Ceeoihus.with bis play Jbidfofa be, woi|ld veni^
ture to receive it. The old gentleman, being at table,
biff the "young autlioir take k stool, a:nd begin, to read ..it
to him. .it. is<,jCii)flerved.bd^Suetonius, that Terence's dress
a 3
S2« T E R E N T I U 8.
was mean, so that his outside did not much recotemen^
him; but he bad not gone through the first scene when
Caecilius invited him to sit at table with him, deferring
to have the rest of the play read till after supper^ Thtis^
with the advantage of Ciecilius's recommendation, did Te*
rence*$ first play appear, when Terence cotild not be twen«
ty-five ; for the " Andria" was acted when he was but
twenty-seven. The ** Hecyra'' was acted the year follow-
ing ; the ** Self- tormentor, or Heautontimoramenos,*' two
years after that ; the <' Eunuch" two years aftei^ the *^ Seif^
tormentor ;'' the ^^ Phormio," the latter end of the same
year; and, the year afterwards, the ^'Addphi, or Bro-*
thers," was acted; that is, 160 B.C. when Terence was
tbirty-<three years of age.
After this, Terence went into Greece, where he stayed
about a year, in order, as it is thought, to collect some of
llen^nder^s plays. He fell sick on his return from thence^
and died at sea, according to some; at Stympbalts, a
town in Arcadia, according to others. From the above ac«
count, we cannot have lost above one or two of Terence's
plays ; for it is impossible to credit what Suetonius repona
fronr one Cbnsentius, an unknown author, namely, thai
Terence was returning with above an hnndred of Metian*--
der^s plays, which he had translated, but that he lost them
by shipwreck, and died of grief for the loss. Terence was
of a middle size, very slender, and of a dark (^omplto^on.
He keft a daughter behind him, who was afterwards mar*
ried to h Roman knight. He left also a house and gar-
den$ on the Appian way, near the Villa Martls, so that the
notion of his djnng poor is very improbable. If -fa'e'cotrid
be supposed to have reaped no advantages frdm the frieni}*-'
ship of Kcipio and Lselius, yet his plays must have brought
him in ^considerable sums« He received eight thtiQsand
sesterces for his '* Eunuch,'* which was acted twice in one
day; a piece iff good fortune which perhaps never hap-
pened to any! other plaj^, for plays with 'the Ronfaraui Werts
never designed to serve above two or thr^e times.- There
i$ no doubt that he was well paid 'for the rest ; fcfr it ap-
pears from the prologtie to the *< Hecyra,'* thtt the poets
used to be pind every time their play was acted. At this
pate, Terence must have made a handsome fortune before*
i)e died, for most of his plays Wereitcted more than once in
Sis^ife^itme. *
•.'. ' • •-•' ..
4
T E R E N T I U & 229
" It xirould Ims endless to mention the testimonies of thd^
ancients in his favour^ or the high commendations bestowed
upon him hj modern commentators and critics. Menander
was his model, and from him he borrowed many of his ma*
terials. He was not content with a servile imitation of
Menander, but always consuhed his own genius, and made
such alterations as seemed to him expedient. His enemies
bUined bi^ conduct in this; but in the prologue to the
^' Andria," be pleads guilty to the charge, and justifies
ti^hat he had done by very sufficient reasons. The come*
dies of Terence were in great repute an^ong the Romans ;
ihough Plautus, having more wit, more action, and more
vigour, was sometimes more popular upon the stage. Te*
pence's chief excellence consists in these three points,
beauty of characters, politeness of dialogue, and regularity
of scene. His characters are natural,^ exact, and finished
to 'the last degree ; and no writer, perhaps, ever came up
to him for propriety and decorum in this respect. .If he
bad laid the scene at Rome, and made his characters Ro*
man, instead of Grecian; or if there had' been a greater
variety in the general cast of his characters, the want of
both- which things have been objected to him ; his plays
might have been more agreeable, might have more affected
those for whose entertainment they were written ; yet in
what he attempted be has been perfectly successful. Tbe
elegance of his dialogue, and the purity of his diction, are
acknowledged by all : by Caesar, Cicero, Paterculus, and
Q.uintilian, among tbe ancients; and by all tbe moderns.
If Terence could not attain all the wit and, humour of
Menander, yet, he fairly equalled himii^ chasteness and
correctness of style.
The moderns have been no less united in their praise of
the style of Terence. Erasmus says, that " the purity, of
the Roman language cannot be learned frpm any ancient
author sq well as from Terence; and many have, given, it
as their opinion, that the Latin tongue cannot.be lost while
the comedies of Terence remain. This Roman, urbanity
and purity of diction shews Terence to hare been made a
slave very young, and his education to have been wholly
Roman, since otherwise bis style could never have been so
Jree from tbe tincture of his African origin* Regularity
of scene, or proper disposition and conduct of the dramsk,
is a third excellence of Terence. His scene, as Conjgreve^
who calls him the correctest writer in the world, has well
230 T E R E WT ru s;
observedy:a1wny8 proceeds in a regular contiddion^ tb%
persons going off and on for visible reasons, and to carry^
on the action of the pia^f, and, upon the whole, the faults
and imperfections are so few, that they scarcely deserve ta
be mentioned. Scaliger said, there were not three in the \
whole six plays : and the comica visj which ^Cssar wiMiea
for bim, would probably have suited our taste less than^
his pcesent delicate humour and wit. Madam Dacier baa
observed, that ^* it would be difficult to determine whi^hr
of nis six plays deserves the preference, since they hav^
each of them their peculiar excellencies. The ** Andrta**^
and "Adelphi," says she, "appear to excel in cbafacliers''
and manners; the "Eunuch*' and '♦Phofmio,'* In vigtr*
rous action and lively intrigue ; the " Heautontimortrme-
nos'* and " Hecyra/* id sentiment, passion, and tfimplieity.
of style.'* ^
The best editions of Terence are, the Elzevir, 16S^,
12.no; that " cum integris notis Donati, et selectis vari-
orutn, 1686," 8vo; thatof Westefhoviutf, in two'vt>lume8,
quarto, 1726; and of " Bentley,*' thci skihe year^ 4to;
the immaculate Edinburgh editioh of 175&;' l^md, aud the
edition of Zeunius, in two volumes^ Leipsld,- 1774, Bv6^'
with very copious hotefe and index. Madatki !>acier'ha^
given a most beautiful French version of this author ; vxiK
in English we have a translation in blank-verse, by €l6lman, *
which is justly esteerted. * ' ■' * ' . x ^»
TERKASSON (Andrew), the first o^a literary iairiily*
of considerable note in France, was th^ eldest bf tlte^ four'
sons of Peter Terrasson, a lawyer of LybRs; s^ndf became it'
priest of the oratory, preacher totheking^ and aJFtefr ward* ^
preacher to the court of Lorraiu; His pulpit servfces wei^-'
much applauded, and attended by the nlost crowded coiw-
gregationis; ' "His eicertions during Lent in the metropolitan*
church Mt ?aris threw him itito an iUness of which he died-
April 25, 1723. His " Sermons" were-printed ina^Sfe,
4 vftls.'l 2*0^0/ 'and reprinted in 1736/*^ l
TEHliASiJON (John), brother to the preceding, was '
born at Lj/btife in 1670, and educated at the house of the'
oratory at Pdris, which he quitted very soon. He after*
wairds ehtoretl into it again, and then left it finally, a proof
oPTinsteadiness,\at which his father wa» so angry, having
t 't . ^ .. • /
1 Crnsius's Lives of ttie Roman Poets.— Vosstut.— Fabric. Bibl. Lal.-^Saxii
Oaoaiast. • . ^ 0ict. Hilt. <
T E R R A S S O N, «l
ne^oWed ()Q>reed up all his sons to the church, that he re*
dMced bisa by bis will to a very moderate iucome ; whichj
hQw<;yery Joba bore without complaining. He. went to
Paris, .and obtaix>ed the apquaintance of the abbiS Bignon,
who became hij» projector and patron, and procured him a.
plac« in the academy of sciences in 1707. In 1721, be
Wias. elected d processor in the college royal. W^en the.
disputes about Hi^mer between LaMotteand madam Da-^.
cier were at tbeir height, he thought proper to enter the
lists, a;id wrote ^' Upe Dissertation contre Flliade,^^ in 2
"^s^ 19mOy. which did yery little* credit to his taste or
judgment. He bad, however, better success in his /^ Se-
thos/* which, as a learned and philosophical romance, has
considerable merit. It has been translated into English,
Another work of Terrassoo is ** A French Traoslation of,
Piodorus Siculus, with a preface and notes,'' which lias
been much commended.
.He died SepI;. 15, 1750, with the iieputation of having,
been one of the best practical philosophers of his age. Ac-
cording to D'Alembert, in bis ^^ History of the Members
of the French Academy," he was absent, simple, totaljjr.
ignorant of the worlds with much learning, and original,
wit .and humour. He suddenly became very rich, by the
Mississ^ppi-scheito^, in favour of which he wrote a pamphlet
of ^^ lleilejKions ;" but was neither affected by bis sudden
riches, nor by the sudden ruin which followed. He said
be, bad now got tid of many difficulties in which wealth had
ii^volved him,, and, lie; should enjoy the comfort and con^,
venience of, living on a little. At the latter end of his life
he totally lost his memory, and when any question was asked .
him, ha^saida. '^ Inquire of Mrs. Luquet, my housekeeper;'^ -
and eveii jwb^n-the, priest, who confessed him in bis last.-
illness, interiro^^d him concerning the sins which he had*
cfimmitted,, be pould get no other answer from, him than
« A^k Mrs. Lnquet.V »
TERRA SSON (Gash'arb), brojther of the two preceding,,
waa.bor^ October .5, 16.80^. at Lyons. At the age of eight-
een, he was^ent by his father to the bouse of the oratoiy .;
at PariS]^ where be immediately devoted himself tei the stu^y
of scripture and- the fatbem, and taiiffbt afterwardit in dif-..
ferent houses of bis oi^fier, cbie0y at Troyes, where he spo^ce .
a funeral oration for the dauphin, son of Louis XIV. in the
iDict. Btft.
a« T E R R A S S O N.
FrftttGiscan church. , Notwithstanding fcb^ toQc^as wfaich-
attended. this hrst essay of his talents for the pulp|it^ he did
not continue to preach, but only delivered exhortations in tiie
seminaries fiut after his brother's deaths heiAg solicited
to biipply several j.ulpits where the deceased had engaged
himself, be soon acquired a degree of reputation superior
to that which Andrew Terrasson bad enjoyed, l)e preached
at Paris during 6ve years, and, among other ocpasipi>^» a:
whole Lent in tbe metropolitan church, to a very num^rouji
congregation. • Various circumstances^ particularly hia^t*
tacbnient to the Jansenists, obliged him afterwards to quit
both the congregation of the oratory and the pulpit at thf
same time ; but M. de Caylus, bishop of Auxerre^ mad^
him curate of Treigny in 1735. Persecution, however, stilli
following him, he was sent to the Bastille, which he quitted
ill 1744, to be confined with the Minimes at Argent^uik
At length, when his weakened faculties ipade him con^i*
^ered as usi^less to bis party, be was set at liberty, and
died at Paris in tbe bosoin of his family, Jan* 2, 1752,
leaving ^^Sermons^'* 4 vols. 12mo, and an anoriympu^bo^itk
entitled, *' Lettres ftnr la Justice Chr^tiennep*' which has
been censured by the Sorbonne. '
TERRAB80N (Matthew), an. eminent advptcate to the
parliament of Paris, was born August 13., 1669, and i^ras
related to the same family as the preceding, H^ was adt
mitted advocate at Parts in 1691, where his merit and
abilities soon proeared him many clients, and having made
the written law hh peculiar study, he be^amc^ is it were,
the oracle of the Lyonnois, and all the provinces wlier0
tbe law is fotfdwed. He assisted in th^ >< Journal de 8a*
vans'* during five years^ and was several years ceaaori-
royal of books of law and literature. - He diedvSe^ceinbef
30, 1734, at Paris, aged sixty-six. He left a collection ^
his own discourses, pleadings, memoirs, and consultation^
under the title of <^ CEuvres de Matthieu Terrasson,'' &q.
4to. This collection, which v(rasf much .'valued, w^ pub,«
lished by his only son> Anthony Ti^rrisson,' advocate ^ th^
parliament of Paris, and author ^f ^'L'HIstolre de la W
risprudence Romatne/' pritoied at Paris> 1750, fol ^ There
i» an edition of the wark^ of Henrys in 4 vols. ffil. with
notes by Maubew Terrabsou) priut^d by Br«toe»iief til
t >
t Diet. UfU .,,,,.,, ; » JXf-t. J^iit^Morerl.
T E R t R E. in
TChTHE i(FftAKcis JOACltiM Duport liu), a French
irriter of more industry than genius^ was born at St. Malo's,
ih 1715; He entered for a time into the society of the
Jesuits, where he tanght the learned languages. Return-
ing into the world^ he was employed with Messrs! Freron
and de la Pdrte, in some periodical publications. He was
also a member of the literary and military society of Be-^
mn^on, and of the academy at Angers. He died April 17,
I75d, at the age of forty-four. Besides his periodical
writings, he made himself known by several publications:
f. " An Abridgment of the History of England,** 3 vols.
t2mo, which has the advantages of a chronological abridg-
ment, without its dryness. The narration is faithful, sim-
ple, and clear ; the style rather cold, but in general, pure,
amd of a good taste; and the portraits dra\vn with accu-
rtlty t yet the abridgment of the abb6 Millot is generally
[Preferred, as containing more original matter. '2. " His-
tbire des Conjurations et des Conspirations celebres,^* l6
volis. l^mtr; an unequal compilation, but containing some
ifiterestihg matters. S, The two last volumes of the ** Bifai-
libthec)ue amusanre.*' 4. ** L* Almanach des Beaut-Arts,**
afterwards known by the thle of *« La France liieraire.**
He pubtfsheda very itnperfect sketch of it in 1752; but
ithafs since been extended to several vols. 8vo.' 5. **Me-
ift^ireii du Marquis db Choupes,** 1753, 1 2mo. He had
al!to a hand' In the " History of Spain,'* published by M.
Desoriiiailic.
* His son MARG^tyfiRitE-Louis-FttANdis Dijport. Duter-
TRB, "Was one of the moderate revolutionists in 1789, and
strflTei^d under the guillotine in 1793^ when moderation
became a crime.*
TERTREtJorii^ Racist r>u), a French Ddmirtican, wais
born at Calais ih Id 10. Re quitted his studies to go intd
the ttinfy and visited the various countries in a Dutch sbi[5,
but returning to France entered the Domintttin order at
Parb in 1«3S. Five years after this he was^iint' as a miS-r
aionary to the America^ islands, where he laboured zea-
iohsly^ but returned to his native country in 1658, and
died at Paris 1(587, having first revised his general his^
tory of the islands of St. Christopher, &c. and published
it mncb more complete under the title of ** Histoire g6-
ni^rale des Antilles habitues par les Francois/^ 1667,
*' Diet. Pitt.— Biog. Kloif. in Du?oiif .
S34 T E R T U D L i A.N.
167 i, 4 t?ok» 4tv It motk ivbicb was loog cootidered m of
auchoricy. ' . . ) f
TERTULLIAN (dviKTUS Septimaw Fl.OiiftN8), th^
fir»t Latin writer of ihe primilive church whos^.writiogt
are comedown to.us^ was. an Africaiii and born at Car'*:-
thage in the seoond oenturj. His father was. a oenutrien in
the .troops which served und^r the proconsul of Africa^
TertuUian was at first an heathen, and aiinan# as be hini<»
self owns in various parts of hia work% of loose maaaers;
but afterwards embraced the Christian religion,, tlioagbu^
is not known when, or upon what occasion> * He flour^eil
chiefty utider the reigns of the emperor Severua and Canii-
callai from about the year 194 to 216; aodiC; u.probaUetbaa'
h^ lived several yeari^ since Jerome iiientions.a're|^ont^ffail»< .
having attained to a decrepit old age./. There tStnb|iasi^«
sage in his writings whence it can be cono}u^ed.lhat>b#.
was a priest; but Jerome affirms it so positiveljr^<.tbat ib
cannot be doubted. He had great abilities and lenroio^
which he employed vigoroasiy ia the cause of. Ohristiamay^v
and against heathens and heretics; but .towailds .th«r.Mter
part of his. life tquiued the cborch to follow the .JMbantanisis^'
which is the reasou why bis name has not ifaeen ;tfaiiSmiited..
to us with the title of saints The caiiae^of bia«eparalMui:
is not. certainly Known. Baronius has altcibaied it to jea«<<
lottsy, because Victor was preferred befeore bias -to nhe isee
of Rome; Pamelius hkHs at bis disappoioftment,; beoause
be could not get the bishopric of Carthage ;. aaid JeuN>oM)
says, that the envy which the Bomad desgyhomhiaSr'Md
the outrageous manner with . which they treatetd bitn,<eRH^
asperated him against lihe. church, and proYoked.bioi. tar
quit it. What perhaps had as much weight aS any c^itheadi.
reasons was the extraordinary austerily^whiob^tfieseetiof
Montanus affected^ which suited bis oionaaticttimofm^aflL:
Whatever the caose^ he not only joined them, hut wrote in*
tl^ir defence, and' treated the church from which he de«>
parted, with unbecoming contempt*. . ErMr, however^ says '
a modero ecclesiastical historian^ is very inoonstaot; for<
TertuUian afterwards left the Montanis^ or nearly^ so, and i
formed a ^ect of his own, called Tertulliaoisia, whocoo^^
tinned in Africa till Augustine^s time, by wfaosei laboun j
tbeir existence^ as a distinct body^ «a^ brooght.^o a. close.
The character of Terlullian is very strongly delittie^ted by^^
■ OjC^ Hist.— Biog, ViMF> in DuTitnTWt
TEH T O L r IAN. 235
liioi^ff ia bfe dvm ^firings; if there 4)ad*be6ric»nf thFng
peculiarly Christian, which he bad learned from the Mon-^
latiiists, his works cdast httve shown it ; but the only change
dilcoverabie is, that^he increased in his austerities. He ap«
pears to have been married, and lived ail his hfe, without
separating^ rfrcgn bis wife upon bis coonnenciHg priest^ if^
indeed, he did not marry her after. The time of hia death
i8:no vd)er# mentioned.
^ JVf any hiitorians have spoken highly of the abilities and
learning of this father, particularly Eusebius, who says that
b&was one df the ablest Latin writers, and particularly in<>
sitta 4lpon bis being thoroughly conversant in the Roman
laiws ;'^ which may incline us to think that^ like his scholar,
Cyprian, be^as bred to the bar. Cyprtan used every day
thread part €^ his works, and; when he called for the book^
sard, ^Gi^e me my master,*' as Jerome r^^lates. Lacta^ntina
allows him ta have been skilled in all ktnds of learnings yet
censur0»hima»an harsh, inelegant, and abstruse writer. Je-
ranie,iiihisOatalogueof ecclesiastical writers><:aHBhimaiiiait
oi^qnitk aftd^sbarp wit -, and says, in his epistle ta Magnos^
time noautihbrhad more learning and subtlety ; but in other
pdacei fa0 Tepi^eUetids his errors and defects; and, in bis^
apoldgy against Knffinus^ ^'commends bis witv bat- oon-
dtmins/ bis^iyere^iiei." Vicentius Lirinensis givesi this cha-
racter'df him: '^^Tertullian was,*' says he, ^< among the
LoEtiii^, what Odgen was among the Greeks ; that is to say,
the &%% a'nd most considerable man they bad. For who
ismore leartfed than he i who more versed botfa m eccle*-
siasti^al^nSd pfofane knowledge? ^ Has^bO' not comprised
in his vast^eapaoiotts mind all the philosophy of the sages,
tbe maxims of the. different sects, with their histoiries, and:
vjbatever pei^tained to tfaon ? Did he ever attack any
tbtfkg wbich he has not almost always either pierced by the
vivacity of hi&wit) or overthrown by tbe force and we^ht
of his reasonings f And who can sufHoiently extd the
beiuitiea of bis . discourse, which i^ so w;eil gjiarded and:
linked together b^C a continual chain of argum^ntsi^tbat he
even forces the consent of those whcAn be cannot peisuadei?
His words are so many sentences; his aiiswers almost so^*
many victories." • . .^ . • i
Of the moderns, Malebrancbe says^ ^''T^t«Uii8^^ was^^
man of profoand learning; but he had more memoi^ithah''
judgment, greater penetration and extent of imagination
than of understsCndihg. There is no doubt that he was a
visionary^ and had all the qualities I have attributed to
iU T E R T U L L I A N.
Visionaries. The respect be had for the Tisions of Monta*
nusy and for his prophetesses^ is an incontestable proof of
the weakness of his jadgment. His fire, bis transports, bis
enthusiasms upon the most trifling subjects, plainly indi-
cate a distempered imagination. What irregular motions
'ire there in his hyperboles and figures ! How many
pompous and magnificent arguments^ that owe all their •
force to their sensible lustre, and persuade many merely
by giddying and dazzling the mind.*' He then gives er* '
amples out of his book *^ De Pallio;** and concludes with
saying, that ''if justness of thought, with clearness and ele-*
gance of expression, should always appear in whatever a
man writes, since the end of writing is to manifest the
truth, it is impossible to excuse this author ; who, by the
testimony of even Salmasius, the greatest critic of our
times, has laid out all his endeavours to become obsciare ;
and has succeeded so well in what be aimed at, that this
commentator was. almost ready to swear, no man ever un<«
derstood him perfectly."
Balzac thus expresses bis sentiments of Tertullian in a
' letter to his editor, Rigaltius : '' I expect,^' says be, *' the
Tertuliian you are publishing, that he may learn me iktU
patience, for which he gives such admirable instructions.
He is an author to whom your preface would have recon-
ciled me, if I had an aversion for him ; and if the barsh-^
ness of his expressions^ and the vices of bis age, had dis-
suaded ine from reading him : but I have had an' esteem
for him a long time ; and as bard and crabbed as be is,
yet he is not at all unpleasant to me. I have found itt
bis writihgs that black light, which is mentioned in one
of the ancient poets ; and 1 look upon his obsourlty with
tbe same pleasure as that of ebony which is very bright
and neatly wrought. This has always been my opinion ;
for as the beauties of Africa are no less amiable, though
they are not like ours, and as Sophonisba has eclipsed
several Italian ladies, so the wits of that country are not
less pleasing with this foreign sort of eloquence ; and i
shall prefer him to a great many aflfected imitators of Ci-*
Cero. And though we should grant to nice critics thatbi^
style is of iron, yet they must likewise own to us, that
out of this iron be has forged most excellent weapons:
that he has defended the honour and innocence of Chris-
tianity ; that he has ^uite routed the Valentinians, and
^trucK Marcion to the very heart." Ouf learned coun-
ryman, Dn Cave, has likewise shewn himself, still more
T E R T U I. L I A N. 23?
thaoBalzac^ an advocate for Tertullian^s style ; and, with
$ubaiission to Lactantius, who (as we have seen above) cen-
sured it us harsh, inelegant, and obscure, afBrnns, that ^^ it
has a certain majesty peculiar to itself, a sublime aoil
noble eloquence seasoned abundantly with wit and satire^
which, at the same time that it exercises the sagacity of
a reader, highly enteiftains and pleases him." The style/
however, of Tertullian, is a matter of less consequence
than those other merits which give him a rank among th^
fathers : but in this respect it seems difficult which of th^
|wo were predominant, his virtues or his defects. He .was
endued with a great genius, but seemed deficient in point
of judgment. His piety was warm and vigorous, but at
the same time melancholy and austere, and his credulity
and superstition, learned as he was, were such as could
only have been expected from the darkest ignorance. Hq
placed religion too much in austere observances ; and in
this respect, the littleness of his views appears conspicuous
in the very first tract in the volume of his works, *^ Da
Pailio," the purport of which is to recommend a vutgac
and r^istic kind of garment for Christians in the place of
the Roman toga; but a more remarkable instance is giv^
of bis absurd scrupulosity about such trifles, in which ho
wttrmly approves the conduct of a Christian soldier who
refused to wear a crowrr of laurel which bis commander had
given him with the rest of the regiment, and was punished
for bis disobedience. Upon the whole, although bis woikti
throw some light on the state of Christianity in bis time^
they contain very little matter of useful instruction.
The principal editors of this father, who have giveit
editions of his works in one collected body, are Rhenanus,
Pameliu9, and Rigaltius, Rhenanus first published them
at Basil in 1521, from two manuscripts which he had pro*
eured from two abbeys in Germany. As this editor was
well versed in all parts of learning, and especially in eccle-
siastical antiquity, so none have laboured more success-
fully than he in the explication of Tertullian ^ and RigaU
tius has observed, with reason, that he wanted nothing to
hitve*made his work complete, but more manuscripts: and.
though^ says Du Pin, his notes have been censured by the
Spanitsh inquisition, and put at Rome into the Index ex--
purgaCorius, yet tliis should not diminish the esteem we,
onght to have for him. Rhenanus^s edition had beeu
printed a great number -of times, when Parnfelius porblished
S38 T E R T U L L I A N.
^^rtutlkti witb f«ew comotentaries^ dt AfHXvlsrp^Mn lOT^^;
«od although t bis editor has been blatiWd ' fdr 4%iNS<6^f^
40O o^ach to tbihgs foreign to bis points; yet bis tiote^ ^
use&l and ieftrned. His edition, as widt' ^s'R'beiiahiiF^
has been printed often^ in varioug {>biees. 'Aft^ri:lkedtef^'tb^
learned Rigaltias produced hh ^ition in ;l^^,'>^bich'T»
£ar preferable to either of the former ; for; bavirfjg sdfn^
0)ai3ti<»cripts, and other advantages which the foriMi^r edUdrs ^
ivantedy be has given a inore correct text. He hi^ ^e
accompanied it with notes, in which he has explaineddif^
licak passages, cleared some ancient custoifiYS, a^vd^df^*
cussed many curious points of learning. The greatest d&i
jection to this editor has been made by the Roman teath<^
Jios, who say that be has occasionally made obserration^
not favourable to the presem practice of the ohorch :'• bnt^
says Du Pin, *^ whatever exceptions tnay be niade ^ hhi
divinity, his remarhs relating to grammar, orittoi^n), and "
the explication of difficult passages, are e^celleht:- • ^M
new edition of Tertullian was begun at Halle, by ^e^l^,^
in 1770, and six parta published in small Svo^ahd. thte ^tne
was reprinted mth a view to be continued by Ob#rthbr^' fi^
17 80-^^1, ^vofs. Svo, but neither the offe i^r lfa^4dth>6\^
bave j>een completed. Detached pieciiss of ^itylltSrntlS^iff
been edited byvery learned critics, ^alinasilid b<e^tdiretf
a. very vQluminou^ comment upon biil^ inMll^ piee^*A^€)e
PalliD/^ the best edition of which is that ^ Li^yd'eny^^O^^
in 8Vo ; but some <sq under- rate it a^totbii^Ii thd^il^'^^nh^
cipal value is a fine print of Salmasim, plaM4 btp'^Sl^ I96P
ginning of it His ^< ApoIogetiQua,'*- as it lla« i^^^tf'lGiSt^l^
xead, so it has been ^be oftenest pobKsbod of 4lt^^l|i^ f&^^
tber's works^ This apology for Cbristta^lliy ^sitid^it^'^^
f^ssofs was wricren abotit the year SOOf ih th^ begitffiM^
of the persecution under the emperor Sev^ki^. ^« {t^ i^ <^6mf>
luonly believed that he ^oteit at Rome, atvd ftddr^ii8<ed^f#
to the senate : but it is more probable that i^wftii ^(itnp^^^^
inAfriica, as, ihdeed^ be does not address bimc^f toUt^
senaae^ but to the procomsul of Africa, and th^ g^^rfi^^i^
of the.pro^iiices*^^ 'The best edition of it is that hyHH^^^
camp^ Htiieyded, 1718, Svo.^ ■ '■'' -^"^s
TE&I^. (ihfiTRo)/ jiti Italian painter and^ ^gr«f^^
was b^RBjac lAsedA in li6tl. It is thought^ ttoilti#b^gftA^,
hi»stodaeaiin;his n^th^ cityi but be 4«^aifpjUti#lit'id §^€l^
1 DopiD.— CaTe.— TillemQflt^^^Mostieim and Milaer's C|i. Hist»
T E S T A» Q$9
Bone, where he became a diseiple of Dominichiao. He
was to attached to the pursuit of bis profession, that while,
he was eopyirig the antiques at Rome be forgot to provide
fpv his omi subsistence. He was relieved from great wreteli-
edtiess by the compassioo of Sandran, who recooioiended
him effectually ta prince Giustiniani, aud other patrons.
He was uofortunately drowned in the Tiber, at tbe age of
tbirty^nine, in 1&50, endeavouring to recover his faat^ which
liatd be^n biown into tbe river.
* The style of Pietro Testa as a designer, Mr. Fuselt pro*
noonees unequal ; ** he generally tacked to antique torsos
ignoble heads and extremities copied from vulgar models.
Of female beauty be seems to have been ignorant* Of his
compositions, generally perplexed an4 crowded, the best
known and most correct, is that of Achilles draggi^Dg Hec-
tor from the walls of Troy to tbe Grecian fleet. He de*-
lighted in allegoric subjects, which are mines of picturesque
effects and attitudes, but in their meaning as obscure as
the oeeasiens to- which they allude. Of expression ' he
knew only the extremes, grimace^ or loathsomeness and
horror (* but tbe charge of having been a bad colofufist^ ia
fooadedion igborances bis tone is geaid, faarikionious, and
warm^-as his pencil outrrowy and dree ; supported: by pow«
erfu) imasses.of ohiaroscuro and transparent shades." *
TEXKII^A (Jk^sph Peter), a learned Portuguese Do«.
ntinioan^ Was> bern in I54S. He was prior of the content
at.$sptareui il7^ when king Sebastian undertook the Afri*^
caoi .e^xpeditisA in wbicb be perished. Cardinal Henry,
wi^ipucceeded) bim> dying eoon after, Texeira joined she
friends oliAni^hoi^, who had been proclaioied king by the
people, and. constantly adhered to him. He aceompamed
this prinee into France, 1581, to solicit belp against Pbitifir
n^who disputed the crown with bim. Though Anthony V
ildmon^r^ be 'was honoured wiih tiie title of preacher aud^
OQuoseUor to Henry III; and after tbe d«ath of- that ttio«
n^ircb, atiaabed himself to Henry IV;. with wkon» hebe*^
oaoie agreat&Tourite. He died about 1620. Te3pera%^
worki clearly discoverhis hatred of the Spaniards, fndhts
aversion to Philip II. who took Portugal from prince An^
tbonyt It h asserted^ that as he was preaching one. day ton
the love of OAir neighbour, he said, <^ We are obliged to
love all joieo of whatever religion, sect^ of nation^ eveu^
I PDkUiftM,
•^ >
^40 T E X E I R A.
. Castiliani.*' His ppliticali historical, and (btelogici^l vvril-
ings ara very nuoierous. ^* De PortugaUi» ortu/* Pari*,
I582»4to,70paget|5carce. Atreati&e ^^OnibeOnBanunV'
1398, 1 20)0 ; ** Adventurei of Don Sebastiao/' 8vo•^
TKXTOR. SpeTlXIER.
I'UALES, a celebrated Gr^k pbiloaopher^ and the fint^
of the seven wise men of Greece, was born at Miletus aboift
640 years B» C* After acquiring the usual learning of hi»
own country, he travelled into Egypt and several parts of
Asia, to learn asironomy, geooietry, mystical divinity, na«
tural knowledge, or philosophy, &c. In Egypt he mefe
for some time great favour from the king, Amasis ; bul be
lost it again by the freedom of bis remarks on the eonduct
' of kings, which, it is said^ occasioned hit return to his owb
country, where he communicated the knowledge be hii4
acquired to many disciples, among the principal of. whpm
, were Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Pythagoras, and wm»
the author of the Ionian sect of philosophers. He always^
however, lived very retired, and refused the proffered fa^
▼ours of many great men% He was often visited by Solon;
and it is said he took great pleasure in the conversatioA of
.Thrasybulus, whose excellent wit made him forget that he
was Tyrant of Miletus.
Laertius, and several other writers, agree that he waa
the father of the Greek philosophy ; being the first that
made any researches into natural knowledge^- an;|l mathef
matics. His doctrine was, that water was tbf principle of
which all the bodies in the universe are composed ; tbttt
the world was the work of God ; and that God sees th%
most secret thoughts in the heart of man. He said, that
in order to live well, we ought to abstain from what we find
fault with in others ; that bodily felicity consists in health ;
and that of th^ mind in knowledge. That the moat ancient
of beings is God, because he is uncreated ; that nothing is
more beautiful than the world, because it is the work of
God ; nothing more extensive than space, quicker than
spirit, stronger than necessity, wiser than time. He used
to observe, that we ought never to say that to any oii#
which may b^ turned to ovuc pr^udioe ; and that we should
)ive with our friends as with persons that may become out
enemies. , . • ;
• lu geometry, it has been said, be was a Gonsiderabte
1 Gea. Diet.— X:bAuiep^.f«»]liMiMi> Vii. V.
T H A L E S. 241
ttiYentor, as virell as an improver; particularly in triatigles.
'And all the writers agree that he was the first, even in
Egypt, who look the height of the pyramids by the shadow.
His knowledge and improvements in astronomy were
very considerable. He divided the celestial sphere into
five circles -or tonesy the arctic and antarctic circles, the
two tropical circles, and the equator. He observed the
api^arent diameter of the $iu>9 which he made equal to half
a degree; and formed the constellation of the Little Bear.
He observed the nature and course of eclipses, and calcu-
IkXed them exactly ; one in particular, memorably recorded
by Herodotus, as it happened on a day of battle between
the Medes and Lydians, which, Laertius says, he had fore^
told to the lonians. And the same author informs us that
h^ divided the year into 36 i days. Plutarch riot only con-
firms his general knowledge of eclipses, but that his doc^
trifle was, that an eclipse of the sun is occasioned by the
intervention of the moon, and that an eclipse of the moon
is caofsed'by the intervention of the earth.
fiis morals were as just as his mathematics well grounded,
and his judi^ment in civil affairs equal to either. He was
Very averse to tyranny, and esteemed monarchy little better
in any shape. — Diogenes Laertius relates, that walking to
contemplate the stars, he fell into a ditch ;^ on which a
go^ old woman, that attended him, exclaimed, ^* HotV
canst thou know what is doing in the heavens, when thou
seest hot what is at thy feet ?" — He went to visit Croesus,
who- was marching a powerful army into Cappadocia, and
enabled him to pass the river Halys without making a
bridge. ' Thales died soon after, at abpve ninety years of
a^e, it is said, at the Olympic games, where, oppressed
with heat, thirst, and a bad of years,- he, in public view,
flun^c' intt) the afms of his friends.
Concernin«*hi» writings, it remains doubtful whether he
left any behind him ; at least none have come down to us.
Augustine mentions some b(>oks of natural philosophy ^
Simphcins, ^ome written on nautrc astrology ; Laerttusj
two 'treatises on the tropics and equinoxes; -and Suidasr, a
treatise on meteor^, written in verse. *
THP^MLSTIUS, an ancient Greek orator and philoso*'
pher, whose eloquence procured him the name of Eu*
' Diog. Laertias.—- HqUod^s Diet.— Fenelon's Lives of the Philosophers.-*-^
Stanley. — Brucker. % ^ ..,*. . .
Vol. XXIX. R
M2 T B E MI S Tl U S.'
phrades, was of Papblagonia, and flourished in the fotliPtil
century. His fiither, Eugenius, was a man of noble birtb,
and educated bis son under bfs own care. After teacfahig
pbilosopbj twenty years at Constantrioopte, and acquir-
ing a great reputation, he went to Homey where the
emperor offered any cofiditions if be would fix himself ill
that city ; but he returned soon, and settled at Constan-^
tinople, where he married, and had children. Themistios
was a peripatetic, and tells us in one of his orations that he
bad chosen Aristotle for the arbiter of bis opinions, and
the guide of his life ; yet he was not so bigotted to tbiA
master, but that he was well versed in Plato, and was par-
ticularly studious of the diction and manner of this pbild'^
soplier, as appears from his works. He bad a great opinioii .
of the necessity of sacriBcing to the graces ; and be sayA
in another oration, ** I often converse with the divine Pla^
to, I live with Aristotle, and I am very unwiUiAgly sepa-
rated from Homer."
He had great interest with several succeeding emperors.
Constantius elected him into the senate in the year 355,
ordered a brazen statue to be erected to him in 361, and
pronounced bis philosophy *^ the ornament of his reign.**
Julian made him prefect of Constantinople in the year 362^
and wrote letters to him, some of which are still extant^
Jovian, Valens, Valentinian, and Gratian, shewed bim many
marks of esteem and affection, and beard him with plea^*
sure haranguing upon the most important subjects. Valen§
in particular, who v^as inclined to favour the Arians, suf-^
fered himself to be diverted byThemistius from per^cuting
the orthodox ; who represented to him the little reason
there was to be surprised at a diversity of opinions among
the Christians, when that was nothing in comparison of the
differences among the heathens ; and that such differenceH
ought never to terminate in sanguinary measures ; and by
such arj^uments be is said to have procured universal tolera^
tion. Though himself a confirmed heathen, he maintained
correspondences and friendship with Christians, and par«
licularly with Gregory of Nazianzen, who, in a letter to
him, still extant, calls him ^* the king of language and
composition.*' Lastly, the emperor Theodosius made him
again, prefect of Constantinople in the year 534; and^'
fidien be was going into the west, placed his son Area*
dius with him as a pupil. He lived to a great age; but
the precise time of his death is not recorded. He has
T H E M 1 ST t U ST. i4%
I
BQHiediiies been oonfounded with another Themistitis, who
was much younger than he, a deacon of Alexandria, and
the founder of a sect aoipng Christians*
Morp than thirty orations of Themistius are still extant^
eight of which were published at Venice in 1534, foUo, but
the best edition of the whole is that, with a Latin version
by Petavius, and notea by father Hardouin, at Paris, 1684,
in folio. He wrote also commentaries upon several parts
of Aristotle's works ; which were published in Greek at
Venice, in 1534, folio; Latin versions were afterwards
made by Hermolaus Barbarus, and others.*
THEMI8TO0LES, the great preserver of Athens at
tbe Ume of the Persian invasion, owed no part of his cele*
brity or influence to the accident of bia birth. He was born
libout 530 B. C. his father being Neocles, an Athenian of
no^illustrious family, and his mother an obscure woman, a
Thracian by birth (according to the best authorities), and
not of the best character. His disposition was naturally
wbement, yet prudent ; and .Plutarch says that be was pro*
noiunced very early by his preceptor, to be a person wh6
would bring either great gpod or great evil to bis country.
Some. of the ancients have »aid that be was dissolute in bit
youth, and for that reason disinherited ; but this is posi*
tively denied by Plutarch. His ardent but honourable am-*
bition was soon discovered ; and contributed to put him on
bad terms with Aristidies^ and some other leading men. He
pushed hinn»elf forward in public business, and^ seeing that
it was necessary for Athens to become a maritime power,
persuadied the people to declare war against iEgina, and
to build an huiidred triremes. In these ships he es^ercised
the peoplOf and thus .gave them those means of defence
and aggrandizemtent which they afterwards employed wikh
so much success. Yet it happened that he bad no oppor-
tunity of distinguishing his military talents in his youth,
being forty years ^of age at. the time of the battle of Mara-
thon; after whicb be was frequently heard to say /< that
the trophies of MUtiades disturbed his rest." As^a judge,
be wa^ strict and severe ; in which oflSce, being asked by
Simooides to make some stretch of power in his behalf, he
replied, '* Neither would you be a good poet if you trans*
gressed the laws of numbers, nor should 1 be a good judge,
if I should hold the request of any pne more sacred tbaa
' Fabticii Bibl. Grec— Brucker.-^Saxii Onoaast.
a 2 -
I
«
341 TBEMISTOCL K S.
the laws." Themistocles bad so much credit with the peo*
pie, as to get bis rival Aristides bauisbed by ostracism* In
the Persian war, it was he who first interpreted the wooden
walls mentioned by the oracle, to mean the Athenian ships :
by his contrivance the fleet of Xerxes was induced to figh^
in a most disadvantageous situation off Salamis, where it
8u({iered a total defeat. For his whole conduct in this
action he gained the highest honours, both at home and in
Sparta. This was in 480^ ten years after the battle of
Marathqo.
The power of Themistocles in Athens was confirmed for
a, time by this great exploit, and be earnestly pressed the
rebuilding of the city, and the construction of new and'
more complete fortifications. The latter step gave alarm
to the jealousy of Sparta ; but Themistocles, employing all
h^s prudence to deceive the Lacedaemonians, and even
going to Sparta in person as an ambassador, contrived to
gain so much time, that the walls were nearly completed
before the oegociation was settled. Wiih equal vigilance,
patri.otism> and sagacity, he superintended the improve*
ment; of the Atheniian port named Piraeus. After these,-
and other services to bis country, Themistocles met with
the return almost itivariable in democratic goverotpents,
ingratitude* He was accused of aggrandizing his own
power and wealth in a naval expedition, was finally impli*
cated in the accusations, proved against Pausaniasin Sparta,
and banished. He sought first the patronage of Admetus,
king of the Moloasi, ,and afterwards that of the king of
Persia, by whom he was magnificently supported to bis
death, which happened about 465 years before our aera.
His bones, in pursuance. of bis dying request, were carried
ir>to Attica, and privately buried there. The blemishes in
the character and conduct, attributed to this great man,
cannot, perhaps, with strict historical fidelity, be com-
pletely denied; yet much allowance must be made for that
party spirit, by which political worth so frequently :suf-
fered in Greece. In abilities, and in his actions, be waa
certainly one of the greatest men whom that country ever
produced. " The mind of Themistocles,'* says the great
historian Thucydides, " seems to have displayed the ut-
most force of , human nature; for the evident superiority
of his capacity to that of all other men was truly wonderfuL
His penetration was sucb^ that from the scantiest informa-
tion, and with the most instantaneous thought, he formed
T H E M I S T O C L E S. 24J
the most accurate jndgment of the past, and giaiii16d thS
clearest insight into the future. He had a discernment
that could develope the advantageous and the pernicious
in measures proposed, however involv^jd in perplexity and
obscurity ; and he had, no less remarkably, the faculty of
explaining things clearly to others, than that of judging
clearly himself. Such, in short, were the powers of his
genius, and the readiness of his judgment, that hd
was, beyond all nrten, capable of directing all things, ott
every occasion." He died, according to Plutarch, in his
sixty-fifth year; leaving a large progeny, to whom the
bounty of the Persian monarch was con^ifiued. Many of
them were, however, restored to their country. It is vefry
commonly said, and Plutarch favours the notion, that he
died by poison voluntarily taken : but Thucydides does not
seem to credit the opinion^ but rather to consider his death
as natural.*
THEOBALD (Lewis), a miscellaneous writer and cri-
tic, was born at Sittingbourn in Kent, in which place his
father was ah eminent attorney. His grammatical learning
he received at Isleworth in Middlesex, and afterwards ap-
plied himself to the law; but, finding that pursuit tedioUs
and irksome, he quitted it for the profession of poetry.
According: to the editors of the " Biog. Dramatica,'* hii
first alppearance in this profession was not mudh to his
credit. One Henry Mestayer, a watchmaker, had written
a play, which he submitted to the correction of Theobald,
who formed it into a tragedy, and procured it to be acted
and printed as his own. This compelled the watchmaker
to publish his own performance in 1716, with a dedication
to Theobald. The editors of the Biog. Dram, who appear
to have examined both pieces, observe that Theobald,
althqtigh unmercifully ridiculed by Pope, never appeared
so despicable as throughout this transaction. " We had
seen him before only in the light of a puny critic:
" But here the fell attorney prowls for prey."
Theobald engaged in a paper called " The Censor," pub-
lished in Mist's " Weekly Journal ;" and, by delivering
bis opinion with too little reserve concerning some eminent
wits, exposed himself to their resentment. Upon the pub-
lication of Pope's Homer, he praised it in the most extra-
vagant terms ; but afterwards thought proper to retract his
» Mitford's Greece. -^Plutarch.— Thucydides.
S4« THEOBALD.
opinion, and mbnsed the very performance he had before.
afTected to admire. Pope at first made Theobald the heror
of his ** Dunciad ;*' but afterwards thought proper to dis*
robe him of that dignity, and bestow it upon another. In
1726, Theobald published a piece in Svo, called '* Shake*
ap^ar Restored :*' of thi», it is said, he was so v6tn as to'
aver, in one of Mist^s "Journals,'* "that to expose any'
errors in it was impracticable ;*' and, in another, '^ thaJr
whatever care might for the future be taken, either by^
Mr. Pope, or any other assistants, he would give above five
bundi'ed emendations, that would escape them all." Pur-^
ing two whole years, while Pope was preparing his editicVh,
he published advertisements, requesting assistanee, and
promising satisfaction to any who would contribute to its
greater perfection. But this restorer. Who was at thai time
soliciting favours of him by letters, wholly concealed that
be had any such design till iafter its publication ; whidh he
owned in the •' Daily Journal of Nov. 26, 1728.*' Theo-
bald was not* only thus obnoxious to the resentment of
Pope, but we find him waging war with Mr. Dennis, who
treated him with more roughness, though with less satire.
Theobald, in "The Censor,'* N* 33, calls Dennis by the
iiame of Furius. Dennis, to resent this, in his remarks- on,
Pope*a Homer, thus mentions him : "There k a notorious
idiot, one Bight Whacum ; who, from an under-spur-lea«*
tber to the law, is become an understrapper to th^ play-^
bouse, who has lately burlesqued the Metamorphoses of:
Ovid, by a vile translation, &c. -This fellow is concenfied
in an impertinent paper called the Censor.'* Such wdsT
the langusige of Dennis, when inflamed by contradiction. '^
In 1720, Theobald introduced upon the 8t%e a tragedy
called " The Double Falshood ;*' the greatest part of which-
be asserted was Shakspeare's. Pope insinuated to the
town, that it was all, or certainly the greatest part, Mrritten,
not by Shakspeare, but Theobald himself; and quotes thia
line,
*' None but thyself can be thy parallel 5"
which he calls a marvellous line of Theobald, .'^ unless,^*
says he, "the play, called *The Double Falshood,^ be (as.
he would have it thought) Shakspeare's $ but, whether this
is his or not, he proves Shakspeare to have written as bad.**
The arguments which Theobald uses to prove the play to
be Sbakspeare's^ are indeed^ far from satisfactory, and it
f
TH E O B A L D* 8*^
^W8ft aftetwardgi Dr» Farmer's opinion that it jvas Shi^rliey's,.
li WAS) however, Ttndtcated by Theobald, who was attacked
agaiin in *< The Art of Sinking in Poetry.'* Tbeobald en^
diaavoured to prove false criticisins, want of uoderstandixig.
Sbakspeare's manner) ahd perverse cavilling in Pope: JiQ
justified himself and the great dramatic poet, and attempted,
t^ prove the tragedy in question to be in reality <Shak^T
speare's, aad apt i^nvrorthy of him* Tbeobald, besides bi$*
cijcUtion of Shakspeace's plays, in which he collated tbe,an<»;
cient copies, and corrected with great pains ai^d iogenuit]^
many faults, was ih^ author of several dramatic pieces. Nqtf
less than, twenty, printed or acted, are ^i^umeratedio.tber-
'* Biogratpbia Dramatica." He was. also concerned, in vari^f
ou^ translations, and at his death in Sept. \1^^\^ had m^di^
some progress in an edition of Beaumont and f l<^tcher. ; ..^
• As the name is not very common, it may b^ necessary tpl
mention a later writer, a John Theobald, who hafl tb^ ^e^ff
gree of a doctpr of physic, but doe$ not appe^i;(tQ ba^
been of. the London college of physicians* , Ue publisbedj
a little volume of poetry in 1753, called; "^MiisaPanegy'*^
rica,?' and died May 17, 1760. Ampngatmany ptjier p^^i^y^
formamcesy be produced a translation of Merope, trsinalat^^
ffomVoUiMre^ 1744, Svo.V -^ : ,t
. THECMIIRITUS, an ancient Greek p9el:, wa9^ a Si^ilian^
and born at Igyracuse, the son of Praxagoi^ and>Pbilina,f
He is said to>bave been the scholar of Pbiletas,. aad^ Asclet^
piades, .or SiCjeUdas : Philetas was an elegiac po/^t, of tb^
illand^of Cos, bad the honour to be preceptor tp Ptotep9y>
£biladelphus, and is> celebrated by QvJd and.Pxopertius,^^
^iceiidas wasaSamian, a writer of epigrams^: Theocrituf^
Ojientionsbptjlft these with honour in his seveirthldy Ilium.
As to the age in which be fionri^hedj it seems indisputably^
to be ascertained by two Idylliutas that remain : w^ is,ad^«
dressed to Hiero^Jcing of Syracuse^ and the other tp Ptpl/e-*
my Philadelphus, the Egyptian, mqnikrch. Hierp- t^ega^H
his reign, as Casaubon asserts in his observations on Poly**;
hius, in the second year. of the- 126th olympiad, or about
275 years before Christ; and Ptolemy in the fourth year
of the \%%A olympiad. Though the exploits of >Hiero aria
redorded greatly to his advantage by Poly bins, in tbe .first-
bpdk Pf bis history ; though he had many virtues, had fre«-l
■7'' > • . ' • , «
> Cil).b«r'ft LiTes.<^Biog* Dram.-— D'IfiraeU'» Quarrels^ toI.. I,— Bowles's edi«^
tipo <||fPope.^ Johnson's Works. \
MS THEOCRITUS.
>
qnently sig'nalized bis courage and conduct, and distki-*
g.uished himself by several achievements in war; yet he
seems, at least in the early part of his reign, to have ex-
pressed no great affection tor learning or men of letters c
and tb!S is supposed to have given occasion to the 16ih
IJyUi'un, inscribed with the name ot Hiero; where rhe
poet asserts the dignity of his profession, complains that it
met witti neither favour nor protection, and in a very artful
manner touches upon some of the virtues of this prince,
and insinuates what an illustrious figure be would have
made in poetry, had he been as noble a patron, as be was
an argument for the Muses.
His not meeting with the encouragement be expected in
his own country, was in all probability the reason that in*
duced Theocritus to leave Syracuse for the more friendly
climate of Alexandria, where Ptolemy Philadelphus then
reigned in unrivalled splendour, the great encourager of
arts and sciences, and the patron of learned men. In his
voyage to Egypt he touched at Cos, an island in the Ar-<
chipelago not, far from Rhodes, where he was honourably
entertained by Pbrasidamus and Antigenes, who invited
him into the country to celebrate the festival of Ceres, as
appears by the seventh Idyllium. There is every reason
to imagine that he met with a more favourable reception at
Alexandria, than be had experienced at Syracuse, from
bia encomium on Ptolemy, contained in the 17th Idyllium;
where he rises above his pastoral style, and shows^ that be
could upon occasion (as Virrgil did afterwards) exalt bis
Sicilian JMuse to a subtimer strain, paulo^majora : he de-
rives the race of Ptolemy from Hercules, he enumerates
bis many cities, be describes his great power and immense
riches, but above all be commemorates his royal munifi-
cence to the sons of the Muses. Towards the conclusion
of the 14th Idyllium, there is a short, but very noble pane-
gyric on . Ptolemy : in the 1 5th Idyllium he celebrates
Berenice, the mother, and Arsinoe, the wife of Ptolemy.
Little else of this poet^s life can be gathered from his
works, except his friendship with Aratus, the famous au-
thor of the *^ Phsenomena ;" to whom he addresses his
sixth Idyllium, and whose amours be describies in the
seventh. It is mentioned by all bis biographers, that be
suffered s^n ignominious death, and they derive their in-
formation from a distich of Ovid in his Ibis.
- Utque Syracosio praestriot^ fiaiuce poets.
Sic animsB laqueo sit via clausa tuee.
•»»'
*. rt
TH E O C R I T U S. 249
* /
t
But it does not appear, that by the Syracusan poet, Ovid
means Theocritus ; more probably, as socne commentators
on the passage have supposed, Empedoctes, who was a
poet and philosopher of Sicily, is ttie person pointed at:
others think that Ovid by a s.nait mistake or slip of his me-
mory might confound Theocritus the rhetorician of Chios,
who was executed by order of kmg Antigonus^ with Tlieo^
critus the poet of Syracuse.
The compositions of this poet are disiinofuished amon|;;
the ancients by the name of ** Idyllia,'* in order to express
th6 smallness and variety of their natures ; they would now
be called " Miscellanies, or Poems on several Occasions.
The nine first and the eleventh are confessed to be true^
pastorals, and hence Theocritus has usually passed for
nothing more than a pastoral poet: yet he is manifestly
robbed of a great part of his fame, if his other poems have
not their proper laurels. For though the greiuer part of
his '^ Idyllia^' cannot be called the songs of shepherds, yet
they have certainly their respective merits. His pastorals
doubtless ought to be considered as the foundation of his
credit. He was the earliest known writer of pastorals, and
will be acknowledged to have Excelled all his imitators, as
much as originals usually do their copies. There are,
says Dr. Warton, *' few images and sentiments in the Ec-
logues of Virgil, but what are drawn from the Idylliums of
Theocritus : in whom there is a rural, romantie wildiiess
of thought, heightened by the Doric dialect ; with such
lively pictures of the passions, and of simple unadorned
nature, as are infinitely pleasing to lovers and judges of
true poetry. Theocritus is indeed the grpat store-house of
pastoral description ; and every succeeding painter of rural
beauty (except Thomson in his Seasons) hath copied his
images from him, without ever looking abroad upon the
face of nature thenns'elves." The same elegant critic, in
his dissertation on pastoral poetry, says, " If I might ven^
tore to speak of the merits of the several pastoral writers,
I would say, that in Theocritus we are charmed with a
certain sweetness, a romantic rusticity and wildness, height-
ened' by the Doric dialect, that are almost inimitable.
Several of his pieces indicate a genius of a higher class,
far superior to pastoral, and equal to the sublimest species
of poetry : such are particularly his Panegyric on Ptolemy,
the fight between Aniycus and Pollux, the Epithalamiuia
of Helen, the young Hercules, the grief of Hercules for
aSO T H £ O C R I T U S.
Hylas, the death of Pentheus, and the kiiliog 'of the Ne^.
mean Lion.^* At the same tiaie it mus^.be allowed that*.
Theocritus descends sometimes into g;ro8s and mean ideai^.
and makes his shepherds abusive and immodest, which isf*
sever the case with Virgil. • / , v
This poet was first published in fo)io at Milan in li^3^.
again by Aldus at Venice, in 1491, aiwd by {jienry.Ster
phens at Paris, in 1566, with other Greek pooip,./sod withr%
out a Latin version : a good edition also in Greeji pnly/wai;
printed at Oxford, by bishop Fell, .in 1676, 8vo.> Th^rOt
are, since, the editions of Martin, Lond. 1760, Svo^ tbA.
very splendid one of Thomas Warton, 1770» 2 vols. .4|o;
and of Vjklckenaer, Leydeu, 1773, 8vo. Dr. TbomaaJ&iW
wards also published a very correct and critical editi«n;o|>
^^ Selecta qusdam Theocriti Idyilia," 1779, 8va^ > •;.
THEODORE.ANTHONY L king of Corsica, baroiv
Niewhoff, grandee of Spain, bstron of England, peer of.
France, baron of the holy empire, prince of the Papal
throne: for thus he styled himself; ^^ a man whoseclaiqir
to royalty,** says lord Orford, ^^ was as indisputable, as
the most ancient titles to any monarchy can pretend to<
be;*' was born at Metz about 1696. The particulars of
his eventful history are thus related. In March 1736^*
whilst the Corsican mal-con tents were sitting in council,];
an English vessel from Tunis, with a passport from our
consul there, arrived at a port tlien in the possession of the
inal-conten^ts. A stranger on board this vessel, who ba4.
the appearance of a person of distinction, no sooner wefii-
on shore, but was received with singular honours by thet
principal persons, who saluted him with the titles of exceU
lency, and viceroy of Corsica. His attendants consisted^
of two officers, a secretary, a chaplain, a few domestics
amd Morocco slaves. He was conducted to the bisbop*r
palace; called himself lord Theodore; whilst tb^ chiefs^
knew more about him than they thought convenient to de«>.v
clare. From the vessel that brought him were debavkiedii
ten pieces of cannon, 4000 fire-locks, 3000 pair of sbpes^t
a great quantity of provisions, and coin to the.amo^Mofi
200,000 ducats. Two pieces of cannon were placed before^
his door, and he had 400 soldiers posted for*.his guards
He created officers, formed twenty- four companies of aol«3
> Votsius Poet. Grec^Fabric. Bibl. Grsc — Life prefixed to Fawkes's Traoc/^
THEODORE. «l
HetB, dfsttibiited among the mal-oonteots the arms knd
•boes he had brought with him, conferred knighthood on
one of the chiefs, appointed another bis treasurer, and pro«»
fe^sed the Roman Catholic religion. Various conjectures
were formed in different courts concerning him. The
^(dest son of the pretender, prince Ragotski, the dokje do
Ripperda, oomte de Bonneval, were each in their turns
supposed to be this stranger ; all Europe was puzzled ; but
tbe country of this stranger was soon discovered : he was,
in.fiaict, a Prussian, well known by the name of Theodore
Antony, baron of Niewhoff.
Tlieodore was a knight of the Teutonic order, had suc-
cessively been in the service of several German princes,
bad seen Holland, England, France, and Portugal ; gained
tbe confidence of the great at Lisbon, and passed there for
a'cbarg6 des aflaires from the emperor. This extraordinary
man, with an agreeable person, had resolution, strong
natural parts, and was capable of any enterprise. He wasi
about fifty years of age. Upon his first landing, the chiefs
of the Oorsicans publicly declared to the people, that it
was to him they were to be indebted for their liberties, and
that he was arrived in order to deliver the island from the
tyrannical oppressions of the Genoese. The general assem-
bly offered him « the crown, not as any sudden act into
which they had been surprised, but with all the precaution
that people could take to secure their freedom and happi<»
nesg under it. Theodore, however, contented himself whb
tbe title of governor-general* In this quality he assembled
the people, and administered an oath for preserving eternal
p^ace among themselves ; and severely did he exact obe«*
dience to this law.
He was again offered the title of king : he accepted it
the 15th of April, 1736, was crowned king of Corsica, and
received the oath of fidelity from his principal subjects,
And the ^cUroations of all the people. The Genoese,
iatarmed at these proceedings, publicly declared him and
bis adherents guilty of high treason; caused it 16 bere«>'
ported, that he governed in the most despotic 'manner,
even to tbe putting to death many principal inhabitants,
merely because they were Genoese ; than which nothing
could be more false, as appears from his manifesto, iu
answer to the edict. Theodore, however, having got toge*
tber 25,000 men, found himself master of a country wberu
Ih^ Genoese durst not appear: he carried Por^o VecchiO|
232 Theodore.
ind, May the Sd, blocked up the city of Bastia, but was
soon obliged to retire. He' then separated his force, was
' Buccessfttl in his conquests, and came again before Bastia,
.. which soon submitted to hirn» His court grevir brilliant^
and he conferred titles of nobility upon his principal cour-
tiers.
Towards July, murmurs were spread of great dissatisfac*
tions, arising from the want of Theodore's promised sue*
cours : on the other hand, a considerable armament sailed
from Barcelona, as was supposed in his favour. At the
same time France and England strictly forbade their sub«
jects in any way to assist the mal-contents. Sept. the 2d,
Theodore presided at a general assembly, and assured hid
subjects anew of the speedy arrival of the so much wanted
succours. Debates ran high ; and Theodore was given to
understand, that before the end of October he must resigrt
the sovereign authority, or make good his promise. : He
received in the mean time large sums, but nobody knew
whence they came: he armed some barques, and chased
those of the Genoese which lay near the island. He now
instituted the order of Deliverance, in memory of his de-
livering the country fronrj the dominion of the Genoese.
The monies he had received he caused to be new coined ;
and his affairs seemed to have a j)romising aspect : but
the scene presently changed. .
In the beginning of November, he assembled the chiefs ;
and declared, that he would not keep them longer in a
state of uncertainty, their fidelity and confidence demand-*
ing of him the utmost efforts in their favour; and that he
had determined to find out in person the succours he had
so long expected. The chiefs assured him of their deter-
mined adherence to his interests. He named the principal
among them to take the government in his absence, made
all the necessary provisions, and recommended to them
pnion in the strongest terms. The chiefs, to the number
of forty-seven, attended him with the utmost respect, on
the day of his departure, to the water-side, and even on
board his vessel ; where, after affectionately embracing
them, he took his leave, and they returned on shore, and
went immediately, to their respective posts which he had
assigned them ; a demonstrative proof this, that he was
not forced out of the island, did not quit it in disgust, or
leave it in a maoner inconsistent with his royal character.
THEODORE. 25S
Thus ended the reign of Theodore, who arrived in a few
<}ays disguised in the habit of an abbd at Livonia^ and
thence, after a short stay, conveyed himself nobody knew
v^bither. The next year, however, he appeared at Paris ;
wak ordered to depart the kingdom in forty*eight hours;
precipitately embarked at Rouen, and arri^^ed at Amster-
dam, attended by four Italian domestics; took up his quar-
ters at an inn ; and there two citizens arrested him, on a
olaim of 16^000 florins. But he soon obtained a protection,
and found some merchants, who engaged to furnish him with
a great quantity of ammunition for his faithful islanders. He
accordingly went on board a frigate of fifty-two guns^ and
150 men; but was soon afterwards seized at Naples in
the house of the Dutch consul, and sent prisoner to tbl»
fortress of Cueta. This unhappy king, whose courage had
raised htm to a throne, not by a succession of bloody acts,
but by the free choice of an oppressed nation, for many-
years struggled with fortune; and 'left no means untried,
which policy could attempt, to recover his crown. At
length he chose for his retirement this country, where he
ifiight enjoy that liberty, which he had so vainly endea-
voured to fix to his Corsicans : but his situation here, by
degrees, grew wretched ; and he was reduced ^o low, as to
be several years before his death, a prisoner for debt in the
King's-bench.
To the honour of some private persons, a charitable
contribution was set on foot for him, in 1753; and, in
1757, at the expence of the late lord Orford, a marble
monument was erected to his memory in the church-yard
of St. Anne's, Westminster, with the following inscription :
Near this place is interred
Theodore king of Corsica ;
who died in this parish Dec. 11,
■ 1756,
immediately after leaving
the King's-bench prison,
by the benefit of the Act of Insolvency :
In cbnsequence of which,
he registered his kingdom of Corsica «
for the use of his creditors.
The grave, great teacher, to a level brings
Heroes and beggars, galley slaves, and kings.
But Theodore this moral learn'd ere dead :
Fate pour*d its lesson on his living head ;
Beslow'd a kingdom^ and deny*d him bread.
}
S5« THEODORE.
Theodore had a son, known by the name of colonel
Frederick, who, after following bis father into £ugland^
entered xinto the army in foreign service, but appears t9
have been disappointed in his bopes of rising, or acquiiing
even a competence, and after sustaining many distresses^
without timely relief, put an end to his life, by a pistol^
near the gate of Westminster Abbey, Feb. 1, 1797. He
was a man of gentleman-like manners, and accomplish*
ments, and much regretted by those who knew him inti«
mately. He was interred in the church-yard of St. Anne^a
Soho, by the side of his father. He published in 1768,
**Memoires pour servir a THistoire de Corse,*' 12mo, of
which there is an English translation ; and, ^ A Descrip*
lion of Corsica, with an account of its temporary union
to the crown of Great Britain, &c«" 8vo. '
THEODORE, archbishop of Canterbury, was a ni^nk
of Tarsus. He was ordained bishop by pope VitalianHa,
and sent into England in the year 668, to govern the
church of Canterbury. Being kindly received by Lia^
Egbert, he restored the faith, and promoted, or rather
founded, a form of ecclesiastical discipline, which he ia
•aid to have exercised with great rigour, placing and dis«
placing several bishops in an arbitrary manner, particularly
those belonging to the diocese of York. He died Sepc
19, 690, aged eighty-eight. He is said to have imported
into England a great many valuable MSS. Godwin men«»
tious a Homer, extant in his time, of exquisite beamy.
He is also the supposed founder of the school celled
Greekiade, whence arose the university of Oxford, but
this isr somewhat fabulous. What remains of his form of*
discipline, called the ^* Penitential," and of his other woiks^
has been collected by James Petit, and printed at Paris^
1677, 2 vols. 4to, with learned notes.*
THEODORE of Mopsuestia, so called from his being
bishop of Mopsuestia, a city in Cilici^, was educated and
ordained priest in a monastery, and became one of the
greatest scholars of bis time, and bad the famous Nestoriua
for a disciple. Be died iu the year 429, or 430. This
bishop wrote a great number of learned works, of which
are now only extant, '< A Commentary on the Psalms,*'
which is in father Cordef s ^^ Catena,*' the authenticity of
> Memoires deCorse.— -Floyd ■ Bibliotheca Bio^.— Lord Orford's Works^ vol.
I. p. 151.— Gent. Mag. vol. JLXVII.— Aanaal Necrotofy for 1797-S»
* Godwin dt Prsiiulibas.— Wb«rton*i An^lm Sacim. — ^Dupin.
THEODORE. 255
Which WAS verified, iii one. of bis dissertations by the dijike
oFOrleansy ^fao died in 1752, at Paris, one of the most
teamed princes Europe has produced. Theodore left also
a *' Commentary*' in MS. on the tweWe minor prophets;
and several *^ Fragfmencs/* enumerated by Dnpin, which
are printed in the ^'Bibliotheca^'of Pbotius. Those parts
of his works supposed to contain the distinction of two
personal in Christ, the letter from Ibas, bisboj} of Edossa^
who defended him, and the anathemas published by the
celebrated Tlieodoret, bishop of Cyrus, against St. Cyril,
i^ favour of Theodore of Mopsoestia-, occasioned no little
disturbance in the church. This dispute is, called the
affair of the ^* Three Chapters,'' and was not settled tilt *
the'Bfth general council, in the year 553, when he and hid
writings were anathematized. His confession of faith may
be found in father Garnier's Dissertations on Marins Mer*
eator. *
THEODORET, an illustrious writer of the church, wai
tfaorn at Antioch about the year 386, of parents who were
both pious and opulent. His birth has been represented as
at'cotnpanied with miracles before and after, according to
his own account, in his ** ReUgious. History ;*' in which he
gravely informs us, that it was by the prayers of a religious
man,' trailed Macedonius, that God granted his mother to
toncef?e a' son, and bring him into the world. When the
holy anchorite promised her this i>lessing, she engaged her*
se^f linher part to devote him to God; and accordingly
Called him Theodoretus, which signifies either given hy
God, or devoted to God. To promote this latter design, he
was sent at seven years of age to a monastery, where he
learnt the sciences, theology, and devotion.' He had for
iHsfinttsters Theodore of Mopsuestia, and St. John Chry«»
sostom, and made under them a very uncommon progress.
His leartlifi^ and piety becoming-known to' the bishops of
Antioch^ they admitted him into holy orders ; yet he did ^
n^ npon that account change either his habitation oi* man-
oer of-litiiVg, but endeavoured to reconcile the exerciser
^f a religious life with the function of a clergyman. After
Hie 'death of bis parents, he distributed his whole inbefit>-
aneU to the poor, and reserved nothing to himself. The
Bt^hdprrc of Gyrus becoming vacant about the year 420^
the bjshop of Antioch ordained Theodoret against his wiif,
1 Dupia io Cave, toI,^ I. , . .
tS6 T H E O D O R E T.
and sent him to govern that church. . Cyras was a city of
Syria, in the province of Euphratesia, an unpleasant and
barren country, but very populous. The inhabitants coixi-»
monly spake the Syriac tongue, few of them understand*
ing Greek; they were almost all poor, rude, and barbarous ;
many of them were engaged in profane superstitions, or in
such gross errars as shewed them to be rather Heathens
than Christians. Tiie learning and worth of Theodoret,
which were really very great, seemed to qualify him for a
better see ; yet he remained in this, and discharged all the
offices of a good bishop and good man. He was afterwards
engaged in the Nestorian dispute, very much against his
will ; but at length retired to his see, spent bis life in
composing books, and in acts of piety and charity, and died
there in the year 457, aged seventy and upwards. He
wrote ^^ Commentaries upon the Holy Scriptures ;*' an
*' Ecclesiastical History ;*' a " Religious History,'* con-»
taining the lives and praises of thirty monks, and several
other things, which are still extant.
Great encomiums have been bestowed upon this wHter^
particularly b}' Dupin, who asserts that <^ Of all the fathers
who have composed works of different kinds, Theodoret is
one of those who has succeeded the very best in every
kind. Some have been excellent writers in matters of
controversy, but bad interpreters of Scripture; others have
been good historians, but bad divines; some have hiad
good success in morality, who have had no skill in doctrinal
points ; those who have applied themselves to confute Pa-«
ganism by their own principles and authors, have usually
had little knowledge in the mysteries of our religion ; and
lastly, it is very rare for those who have addicted them<*
selves to works of piety to be good critics. Theodoret had
all the^e qualities ; and it may be said, that he has equally
deserved the name of a good interpreter, divine, historian^
writer in controversy, apologist for religion, and author of
works of piety. But he hath principally excelled in his
compositions on Holy Scripture, and has outdone almost
all other commentators, according to the judgment of the
learned Photius. His style, says that able critic, is very
proper for a coihmentary ; for he explains, in just and sig^*
nificant4erms, whatsoever is obscure and difficult in the
text, and renders the mind more fit to read and understand
it by the elegance of his style. He never wearies his
reader with long digressions, but on the contrary labours
T H E O D 0 R E T, 257
to instruct him clearly, neatly, and methodifcally, in every
thing that seems hard. He never departs frotti the purity
and elegance of the Attic dialect, unless when he is obliged
to speak of abstruse matters, to which the ears are not ac*
customed : for it ts certain that he passes over nothing that
needs explication ; and it is almost impossible to find any
interpreter who unfolds all manner of difficulties better,
and leaves fewer things obscure. We may find mnny
others who write elegantly and explain clearly, but we
shall find few who have forgotten nothing whicji needed
illustration, without being too diffuse, and without running
out into digressions, at least such as are not absolutely ne^
cessary to clear the matter in hand. Yet this is what
Theoddret has observed throughout his commentaries, in
which be hath opened the text admirably well by his ac-
curate inqtiiri^s." Other writers, however, have not ex-
Sressed so high an opinion of Theodoret. Beausobre, in
is History of the Manichees, says that "Theodoret is, in
my opinion, one of the most valuable of the fathers, fle
is learned ; he reasons well, especially in his dialogues
against the Greek heresies of his times : he is a good lite-
ral interpreter of the Scriptures. I cannot help admiring
bis prudence and moderation, when I consider that he
ended bis Ecclesiastical History at the time when the Nes*-
torian quarrels, in which he was so deeply interested, be-
gan. But, I fear, his zeal against heretics imposed upon
him almost as much, as his admiration for the heroes of the
ascetic life, uith whom he was charmed. Monasteries
Ivave undoubtedly sent forth great men into the world, but
these disciples of the monks contracted there in their youth
a superstitious disposition, which is hardly ever thrown ofFj
and the weak side of this able man seems to have been an
excessive credulity." In truth, Theodoret surpasses all
other writers in admiration of monastic institutions, and is
creduldus beyond measure in subjects of that nature. Yet
he was undoubtedly one of the most learned and best meti
ill the Eastern church. His pacific conduct displeased the
bigots, during the Nestbrian and Eutychian controversies,
and because he inclined to healing methods, he was con^
demned at one of the synods, and was 'not without difficulty
reinstated. " His works,*' says Milner, " are large, on a
variety of subjects ; but they speak not for him equally
with his life; and it will be sufficient to say, that his the-
ology, with a stronger mixture of superstition, was of the
Vol. XXIX. S
•%
4W THEODORE T.
same kind as that of Cbrysostom. But his spirit iiras humble,*
heavenly, charitable ; and be seems to have walked in the
fiaith, hope, and love of the gospel, a shining ornament io«
a dark age and country/'
The works of Tbeodoret were published in Greek and
Latin, by father Sirmond, at Paris, 1642, in 4 vols, folio;
a work not of much pecuniary value unless when joined
with a fifth, which the Jesuit Gamier added, in 1684^
consisting of other pieces, which had never been printed,
before, of supposititious pieces, learned dissertations, and
an account of the life, principles, and writings of Theodo-
ret. A new edition has since been published by Schultze,
Halse, 1768 — 74, in 5 vols. 4to, or in 10 vols. 8vo. The
*^ Ecclesiastical History^' of Theodoret, which is divided
into five books, is a kind of supplement to Socrates and
Sozomen^ as being written after theirs, about the year 45Q^
It begins where £usebius leaves off, at the rise of the
Arian heresy in 322, and ends with 427, before the be-
ginning of the Nestorian heresy. It has been translated
and published by Valesius, with Eusebius and the other
ecclesiastical historians, and republished with additional
notes, by Reading, at London, 1720, in 3 vols, folio. ^
THEODORIC. See THIERRY.
THEODOSIUS, called Tripolites,, or of Tripoli, wa*
a celebrated mathematician, who fiourished, as Saxius seem«
inclined to think, in the first century. He is mentioned
by Suidas, as probably the same with Theodosius, the pbi«
losopber of Bytbinia, who, Strabo says, excelled in matbe-
roatics. He appears to have cultivated chiefly that part of
geometry which relates to the doctrine of the sphere, oa
which he wrote three books containing fifty-nine propo-
sitions, all demonstrated in the pure geometrical manner
of the ancients, and of which Ptolomj* as well as all suc-
ceeding writers made great use. These three books were
translated by the Arabians out of the Greek into their owa
language, and from the Arabic the work was again trans-
lated into Latin,' and printed at Venice|. But the Arabia
version being very defective, a more complete edition waf
published in Greek and Latin at Paris, in IS58, by John
Pena (See P£Na) professor of astronomy. . Tbeodosius'a
works were also commented upon by others, and lastly bj
Pe ChaJes, in his << Cu^sus Mathematicus.'' But that edi^
THEODOSIUS. 259
tioti of Theodosius's spberks which is now most in use, was ■
translated and published by our couutryman the learned
Dr. Barrow^ in 1675, illustrated and demonstrated in anew
and concise method. By this author's account, Theodosius.
appears not only to be a great master in this more difficult
part of geometrj', but the 6rst considerable author of an-
tiquity who has written on that subject. Theodosius also
wrote concerning the celestial houses; and of days and
nights ; copies of which, in Greek, are in the king's li-
brary at Paris, and of which there was a Latin edition, pub-
lished by Peter Dasypody in 1572.^
THEODULPHUS, a celebrated bishop of Orleans, one-
of the most learned men of the ninth century, was born in
Cisalpine Gaul. Charlemagne made him abbot of Fleury,
then bishop of Orleans about the year 793, and chose him
to sign his will in the year 811; Louis le Debonnaire had
also a high esteem for him. But Theodulphus being ac-
cnsed of having joined in the conspiracy. formed by Be-
renger, king of Italy, was committed to prison at Angers,
where he composed the hymn beginning Gloria, laus, et
honor, part of which, in the catholic service, is sung oa
Palm Sunday. It is said that Theodulphus singing this
hymn at bis prison window while the emperor passed by,
that prince was so charmed with it that he set him at liberty.
He died about the year 821. In the Library of the fathers,
d'Acheri's " Spicilegium," and father Labbe's " Councils,'*
is a treatise by this prelate on baptism, another on the Holy
^Ghost, two ** Capitulariu," addressed to his clergy, some
** Poems," and other works ; the best edition of which is
by father Sirmond, 1646, 8vo ; the second of ihe " Capitu-
laria" is in the ^* Miscellanea," published by Baluze. *
THEOGNIS, an eminent Greek poer, was born in the
fifty-tnintb olympiad, orabout 550 years before Christ. Hq
calls himself a Megarian, in one of his verses ; meaning,
. most probably, MegarH, in Achaia, as appears also from
Ilis.own verses, for he prays the gods to turn away a threat-
ening war from the city of Alcathous ; and Ovid calls the
same Megara, Alcatboe. We have a n^oral work of his
exta\;it, of somewhat more than a thousand lines, which is
licknowledged to be an useful summary of precepts an4
leflactions; which, however, has so little of the genius and
' ' '
» Voaslus de Scient. Malth.-— Fabric. Bibl. Gi«c.— HuUon's Diet.— Saxii
OnoiDast.
• Ca¥«, vol. i. — Dupin.
S 2
S60 T H E O G N I S.
fire of poetry in it, that, as Plutarch said, it may more
properly be called carmen than po'ema. These '' Twfia$f
SententisyV or ** Precepts,*' are given in the simplest
manner, without the least ornament, and probably were
put into verse merely to assist the memory* Athenscus
reckons this author among the most extravagant volap-
tuaries, and cites some of his verses to justify the censure ;
and Suidas, in the account of his works, mentions a piec«
entitled ** Exhortations, or Admonitions,'' which, he says,
was stained with a mixture of indecency. The verses wa
have at present are, however, entirely free from any thing
of this kind, whence some have supposed that they were
not left so by the author, but that the indecencies were
' omitted, and the void spaces filled up with graver sentences.
They have been very often printed both with and without
Latin versions, and are to be found in all the collections of
the Greek minor poets. One of the best editions, but a
fare book, is that by Ant. Blackwell, Lond. 1 706, 12mo. ^
THEON, of Alexandria, a celebrated Greek philoso-
pher and mathematician, flourished in the fourth century,
about the year 3 SO, in the time ofTheodosius the Great;
but the time and manner of his death are i/nknown. His
genius and disposition for the study of philosophy were
very early improved by a close application to study ; so
tihat he acquired such a proficiency in the sciences as to
render his name venerable in history ; and to procure him
the honour of being president of the famous Alexandrian
school. One of his pupils was the celebrated Hypatia, his
daughter, who succeeded him in the presidency of the
school; a trust, which, like himself, she discharged with
the greatest honour and usefulness. (See Hypatia.)
The study of nature led Theon to many just |u>nceptiony
concerning God, and to many useful reflections in the
science of moral philosophy ; hence, it is said^^ he wrote
with great accuracy on divine providence. And he seems
to have made it his standing rule, to judge the truth of
certain principles, or sentiments, from their natural or ne*
cessary tendency. Thus, he says, that a full persuasioa
that the Deity sees every thing we do, is the strongest in-^.
centive to virtOe ; for he insists, that the most profligate
have power to refrain their hands, and hold their tongues^
when they think they are observed, or overheard, by some
I Vosftlus dc Post. Qrec.— Fabric. Bibl, Grsca.— Saxii OoaoMtt^
t »
y
THE ON. 261
person whom they fear or respect. ** With how much more
reason then/' says he, *^ should the apprehension and be-
lief that God sees alt things, restrain men from sin> and
constantly excite them to their duty?" He also represents
this belief concerning the Deity as productive of the great-
est pleasure imaginable, especially to the virtuous^ who
might depend with greater confidence on the favour and
protection of Providence. For this reason, he recommends
nothing so much as meditatioo on the presence of God ;
and he recommended it to the civil magistrate, as a re-
straint on such as were profane and wicked, to have th^
following inscription written in large characters at the
corner of every street : ** God sees thee, O sinner."
Theon wrote notes and commentaries on some of the
ancient mathematicians. He composed also a book entitled
** Progymnasmata," a rhetorical work, written with great
judgment and elegance ; in which he criticised on the
writings of some illustrious orators and historians ; pointing
out, with great propriety and judgment, their beauties anct
imperfections ; and laying down proper rules for propriety
of style. He recommends conciseness of expression, and
perspicuity, as the principal ornaments. This work was
printed at Basle in 1541, but the best edition is that of
Ley den, 1626, 8vo. '
THEOPHANES (Prokopovitch), an historian who may
be ranked among those to whom Russia is chiefiy indebted
for the introduction of polite literature, was the son of a
burgher of Kiof; born in that city, June 9, 1681, and
baptised by the name of Elisha. Under his uncle, Theo^
phanes, rector of the seminary in the B^atskoi convent at
Kiof, he commenced his studies, and was well grounded
in the rudijBents of the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew tongues.
Though h^ uncle died in 1692, he completed his educa^
tion in that seminary ; and in 1698, in the eighteenth year
of his age, he travelled into Italy. He resided three years
at Rome, where, beside a competent Icnowledge of Italian,
he acquired a taste for the fine arts, and improved himself
in philosophy and divinity. Upon his return to Kiof be
read lectures on the Latin and Sclavonian art of poetry in
the same seminary in which he had been educated : and,
with the monastic habit, assumed the name of Theophanes*
Before he had attained the twenty-fifth year of his age h»
> Hutton'f Diet.— ^Saxii Onomatt,
262 T H E OP H A N E S-
was appointed pwtefect, the second office in the seminaiy,
and professor of philosophy. In 1706 he distinguishj^
J:\imself by speaking a Latin oration before Peter the Great;
and still more by a sermon, which in I70y he preached
before the same monarch after the battle of Pultawa. Hav-
ing once attracted the notice, he soon acquired the pro-
tection of Peter, who was so captivated with his great ta-
lents, superior learning, and polite address, as to select
him for a companion in the ensuing campaign against the
Turks-; a sure prelude to his fuiure advancement. In 1711
Theophanes was nominated abbot of Bratskoi, rector of
the seminary, and professor of divinity. His censures
against the ignorance and indolence of the Russian clergy,
and his endeavours to promote a taste for polite literature
among bis brethren, rendered him a fit instrument in the
hands of Peter for the reformation of the church, and the
6nal abolition* of the patriarchal dignity. He was placed
at the head of the synod, of which ecclesiastical establish-
ment he liimself drew the plan; was created bishop of
Plescof; and, in 1720, archbishop of the same diocese:
soon after the accession of Catharine he was consecrated
archbishop of Novogorod, and metropolitan of all Russia;
and died in 1736. Beside various sermons and theological
disquisitions, he wrote a treatise on rhetoric, and on the
rules for Latin and Sclavonian poetry ; he composed verges
in the Latin language; and was author of a ** Life of Peter
the Great," which unfortunately terminates with the battle
of Pultawa. In this performance the prelate has, notwith-
standing his natural partiality to his benefactor, avoided
those scqrrilous abuses of the contrary party, which fre-
quently disgrace the best histories ; and has been parti-
cularly candid in his account of Sophia. P#ter, from a
well-grounded experience, had formed such a good opi-
nion of the talents of Theophanes, as to employ him in
composing the decrees which concerned theological ques-
tions, and even many that 'related to civil affairs. Theo-
phanes may be said not only to have cultivated the scienceS|
and to have pi*omoted them daring bis life, but likewise to
have left a legacy to his ecu s try men, for their further pro-
gress after his decease, by maintaining in his episcopal
y)alace fifty hoys, whose education he superintended : un*-
'der his auspices they were instructed in foreign lawguagos,
anJ in various branches of polite ki^owledge, whieh tiad
bepn hitherto censure^d by* many as profane acquisiiious :
THEOPHILE.
263
Ibutf transmilting the rays of learning to illuminate future
ages and a distant posterity. *
THEOPHILE, a celebrated French poet, surnamed'
ViAUD, was born about 1590, at Clerac in the diocese, of
Agen, and was the son of an advocate of Bousseres Sainte-
Hadegonde, a village near Aquillon. Having come early
to Paris, be was admired for bis genius and fancy, and was
the first who published French works with verse and prose
intermixed. But his impiety and debaucheries obliged
bim to go into England in 1619, whence his friends pro-
cured his recall, and he turned Catholic. This change,
however, did not make him more regular in his conduct,
und be. was at last burnt in effigy for having published in
1622, ^^ Le Parnasse Satyrique.'' Being arrested at the
Chatelet, he was placed in the same dungeon of the Con-
eiergerie where Ravaillac had been confined ; but, on bit
protestations of having had no share in the above mentioned
publication, received only a sentence of banishment. He
died September 25, 1626, in the Hdtel de Montmorenci
at Paris, leaving a collection of *^ Poems'* in French, con-
taining ** Elegies, Odes, Sonnets, &c.;" a treatise "on the
Immortality of the Soul,*' in verse and prose ; " Pyrame
ct Thisb^," a tragedy ; three " Apologies ;" some " Let-
ters," Paris, 1662, 12mo; his "New Works," Paris, 1642,
«.vo;.^* Pasiphae," a tragedy, 1628, &c. *
THEOPHILUS, a celebrated patriarch of Alexandria,
who succeeded Timotheus about 885, has the credit of
having completely destroyed the remains of idolatryv in
Egypt, by pulling down the temples and idols of the false
deities; and be also terminated happily the disputles which
bad arisen between Evagrius and Flavianus, both ordained
bishops q| Antioch* He zealously defended the faith of
the Catholic church ; but quarrelling afterwards with Chry-
sostom, caused bim to be deposed, and refused to place
hi« njame in the Dyptics, Of this violence and injustice
* Coze's T/ay^ls into Russia, rol.
II. — Mr, Coxe, in the history of Theo-
phaiMS, fias followed implicitly Mul-
Ist, whose fidelity and accuracy alwaya
appear to him unquestional^le. Mons.
JLe Cterc differs from Mr. Mullet in
.relatioi; tbe earliest part of this pre-
late's life. lie aUo ioforais us, that
Theophanes persuaded Peter to intro-
4ttQa iba prokeatant religion into Rus*.
sia ; and that the emperor vras iBcline^
to follow his advice, but was prevented
by bis death. This important anecdote
Mr. Coxe would not venture to adopt
(though he could not controvert it), aa
the ingenious author has not cited his
authority. See Le Clere's Hist. Anc
de Russie, p. 362; apd Hiit. Mod. p.
65, 66. ' '
•Diet. Hist.— <Mortri.
264 T H E O P H I L U S.
I^upin thinks be never repented ; but some eompmictton
he felt at last, on account of bis otber failings, for on hia
death-bed, reflecting on the long penitence o( St. Arsenius,
be <t:xclaiii]ed, *' How happy art thou, Arsenius, to have
bad this hour always before thine eyes." We have some
of this patriarch's works in the Library of the fathers, which
seem of very little value. Dupin says,, be knew better
bow to nmnage a court-iutrigue than to solve a point in
divinity.*
THEOPHILUS, of Antiocb, a writer and bishop of
the primitive church, was educated a heathen, and after^
wards converted to Christianity, Some have imagined that
he is the person to whom St. Luke dedicates the '' Acts of
Vhe Apostles j'' but this is impossible, as he was not or-
dained bishop of Antiocb till the year 170, and he governed
this church twelve or thirteen years, at the end of which
be died. He was a vigorous opposer of certain heretics of
bis time, and composed a great number of works, all of
which are lost, except three books to Autolycus, a learned
heathen of his acquaintance, who had undertaken to vindi^
cate bis own religion against that of the Christians. The
first book is properly a discourse between him and Autoly**
cus, in answer to what this heathen bad said against Chris*
tiatiity. _ The second is to convince him of the falshood of
bis own, and ti)e truth of the Christian religion. In the
third, after having proved that the writings of the heathens
are full of absurdities and contradictions, he vindicates the
(joctrine arid the )ives of the Christians from those false and
scandalous imputations which were then brought against
them^ Lastly, at the end of bis work, he adds an historic-
cal chronology from the beginning qf the world to his own
time, to prove, that the history of Moses is at once th^
most ancient and the truest ; and it appears from this little
epitome, that he was well acquainted witii profane history.
In these books are a great variety of curious disquisitions
^ concerning the opinions of the poets and philosophers, but
few things in them relating immediately to the doctrines
of the Christian religion, the reason of which is, that bav«
ing composed his woiks for the conviction of a Pagan, be
insisted rather on the external evidences of Christianity,
9.S better adapted, in his opinion, to the purpose. . His style
il elegant, and he was doubtie^s a man of considerable
I Dupio,^<— Mosheim.
T H E O P H I L U S. 265
|)afts ahd' learning. These' books were published, with a
Latin version, by Conradus Gesner, at Zurich, in 1546.
They were afterwards subjoined to Justin Martyr's works,
printed at Paris in 1615 and 16S6 ; then published at Ox*
ford, 1684, in 12 mo,, under 'the inspection of Dr. Fell ;
and, lastly, by Jo* Christ. Woliius, at Hamburgh, 1723,
in 8vo« It has been said, that this Theophilus of Antioch
was the first who applied the term Trinity to express the
three persons in the Godhead.^
THEOPHRASTUS, a celebrated philosopher, was a
native of Eresiurii, a maritime town in Lesbos, aud was
born in the second year of the 102 olympiad, or B.C.* 371..
After iome education under Alcippus in his own country,
he was sent to Athens, and there became a disciple of
Plato, and after his death, of Aristotle, under both whom
he made great progress both in philosophy and eloquence.
It was on account of his^ high attainments in the latter, that
instead of Tyrtamus, which w'as his oiiginal name, he was
called Theopbrastus. During his having charge of the
Peripatetic school, he had about two thousand scholars ;
among whom were, Nicomachus, the son of Aristotle,
Erasistratus, a celebrated physician ; and Demetrius Pha-
lereus. His erudition and eloquence, united with engaging
manners,' recommended him to the notice of Cassadder
and Ptolemy, who invited him to visit Egypt. So great a
favourite was he among the Athenians, that when one of
his enemies accused htm of teaching impious doctrines,
the accuser himself escaped with difficulty the punish-
ment which he endeavoured to bring upon Theopbrastus.
, Under the arcbonship of Xenippus, Sophocles, the son
of Amphiclides, obtained a decree (upon what grounds we
ar« not informed) making it a capital offence for any phi-
losopher to open a public school without an express li*
cence from the senate; on which all the philosophers left
the city; but the next year, this illiberal legislator was
himself fined five talents, and the philosophers returned to
their schools, and Theopbrastus, among the rest, now con-
tinued his debates and instructions in the Lyceum.
Theopbrastus is highly celebrated for his industry, learn-
ing, and eloquence ; and for his generosity and public spi^
rit. He i$ said to have twice treed bis country from the
oppression of tyrants. He contributed liberally towards^
S«« THEOPHRASTUS.
defraying the expence attending thd public meefctogs of
pbiiosopbers, which were held, not for the sake of show,
but for learned and ingienious conversation. In the pub-
lic schooisy he comoionly appeared, as Aristotle had done,
in an elegant dress, and was very attentive to the graces of
elocution. He lived , to the advanced age of eighty-five ;
towards the close of his life, he grew exceedingly infirm,
-and was carried to th6 school on a couch. He expressed
great regret on account of the shortness of life, and com*
plained that nature had given long life to certain animals^
to whom it is of little value, as stags and crows, and had
denied it to man, who, in a longer duration, might have
been able to attain the summit of science, but now, as
soon as he arrives within sight of it, it is taken away* His
last advice to his disciples was, that since it is the lot of
man to die as soon as be begins to live, they would take
more pains to enjoy life as it passes, than to acquire post-
humous fame. These reflections, and this advice, do not
appear to correspond with the character usually bestowed
on this philosopher.
Tbeophrastus, although he held the first place among
the disciptes of Aristotle, did not so implicitly follow his
master as. to have no peculiar tenets of his own. In seve-
ral particulars he deviated from the doctrine of Aristotle;
and he made some material additions to the system of the
Peripatetic school. He taught, that the predicaments, or
categories, are as numerous as the motions and changes to
which beings are liable ; and that, among motions or changes
are to be reckoned desires, appetites, judgments, and
thoughts. In this opinion he deviated widely from Aristo-
. tie : for, if these actions of the mind are to be referred to
motion, the first mover, in conteinplating himself, is not
immovable. He maintained, that ail things are not pro«
duced from contraries; but some from contraries, some from
'similar causes, and some from simple energy : that motion
is not to Ue distinguished from action ; and that there is one
.divine principle of ail things, by which all things subsist.
By this divine principle Theophrastus probably meant the
First Mover, without whom other things could not be moved^
.and therefore could not subsist.
To these theoretical tenets might be added sefcral moral
apothegms, which are ascribed to Theophrastus ; but thejr
are too trite and general to merit particular notice, except
perfaapff'the' following: ** llespect yourself, and you will
V
T. H E O P H R A S T U 1S. ai^T
never have reason to be ashamed before others." "Love
k the passion of an indolent mind/' ^^ Blushing is the
complexion of virtue.'*
In imitation of his master Aristotle, he composed a great
number of works ; and, indeed, we do not find that any
of the ancients exceeded him in this respect. Diogenes
Laertius reckons up more than two hundred different tracts,
and the subjects of which they treated ; but the greatest
part are lost. Those that remain are^ nine books of the
•* History of Plants-," six of the " Causes of Plants;" a
bopk « Of Stones ;" « Of ' Winds ;" ** Of Fire ;" " Of
Honey ;" ** Of the signs of Fair Weather ;" " Of the signs
of Tempest;" <' OH the signs of Rain;" "Of Smells;"
^ ^ Of Sweat ;" " Of the Vertigo ;" " Of Weariness ;" « Of
the Relaxation of the Nerves;" " Of Swooning;" "Of
Fish which live out of water;" " Of Animals which change
their colour;" "Of Animals which are born suddenly ;"
** Of Animals subject to envy ;" and, " The Characters of
Men/'
In his botanical works, " The History of Plants,*' and
the " Causes of Plants," which have come down to us
almost entire, he mentions, and endeavours to describe^
about 500 species ; but his descriptions are very imper-
fect and'daubtful, although Sprengel, in his " Historia Rei
JHerbarisB," has bestowed uncommon pains in endeavouring
to ascertain them. These works were first published in*
the fourth volume of the Aldine edition of Aristotle, Ven,
1497, and have been since reprinted separately, particu-
larly by BodaBus, 1644. There is an edition of his entire
works by Heinsius, 1613, folio; and there are editions of
his tracts, " De Igne," " De Ventis," &c: But the work
of Theophrastus most generally known,- and oftenest re-
printed, is his " Characters," which give him the merit ot
having been the first who drew characters from common
life, anil with somewhat of what we might call modern hu*
mour. Of this entertaining work the most ancient editions
contained only fifteen chapters, to which Camotius, in the
Aldine edition of 1551, added eight, and the remaining
five were discovered in a MS. at Heidelberg, by Marquard
Freher, from whose copy Casaubon inserted them in his
second edition of 1659, which, however, is the least cor-
I rect of the two. The best since are those of Needham^
Cambridge, 1712, 8vo ; Pauw, 1737, Svo; Newton, 1757,
Oxou. ; Fisdier, Cobourg, 1763, Svo; Goezius, Nurim-
W8 THEOPHYLACT.
b«rg, 1798, 8vo; and Coray, Paris, 1799, 8fo. There
are translations of this work into almost every European
Tanguajre. *
THEOPHYLACT, archbishop of Acbridia, and metro-
politan of all Bulgaria, an eminent ecclesiastical writer,'
flourished in the eleventh century. He was born and edu^
cated at Constantinople. After be was made bishop he
laboured diligently to extend the faith of Christ in hit
diocese, when there were still many infidels ; but met with
much difficulty, and many evils, of which he occasionally
complains in his epistles. He was bishop in 1077, and
probably some years earlier. How long he lived is uncer-
tain. The works of this bishop are various : 1 . *' Com^
mentaria in quatuor Evangelia,*' Paris, 1631, folio. These
as well as the rest of his commentaries are very much
taken from St. Chrysostom. 2. << Commentaries on the
Acts of the Apostles,'* Greek and Latin, published with
some orations of other fathers, Colon. 1568. S. ''Com-
mentaries on St. Paul's epistles," Greek and Latin, Lond.
1636, folio. 4. *' Commentaries on Four of the Minor
Prophets :" namely, Habbakuk, Jonas, Nahum, and Ho*
sea, Latin, Paris, 1589, 8ro. The commentaries of Theo*
phylact on all the twelve minor prophets are extant in
Greek, in the library of Strasburgh, and have been de*
scribed by Michaelis in his '* Bibliotheca Orientalis." $,
** Seventy-five Epistles," published in Greek, with ndtes,
by John Meursius, Leyden, 16L7, 4to. They are also in
the Bibliotheca Patrum. 6. Three or four smaller tracts,
some of which are rather doubtful.*
THESPIS, an ancient Greek poet, is entitled to some
notice as the reputed inventor of tragedy. He was a native
of mount Icaria in Attica, and flourished in the sixth cen-
tury Bl C. He introduced actors into his tragedies, who
recited some lines between each verse of the chorus, where-
as, till that time, tragedies had been performed only by a
company of musicians and dancers, who sang hymns in
honour of Bacchus while they danced. Thespis wrote sa-
tirical pieces also, and Horace says that this poet carried
his actors dbout in an open cart, where they repeated their
verses, having their faces besmeared with wine-lees, or,
^ Diogcnei Laertius.— 'Fabric. Bib!. Grace. — Brucker.— I>ibdiD*t Classics.—
Thomson's Hht, of tlie Royal Society. — Saxii Onomast.-^Bruyere's French
Translation.
* DupiD.— Cavei vol. II.— Lardner's Works.— Saxii Oiomast.
T H E V E N O T. 26r
r
according to SuidaSy with white-lead and vermillion. .His *
poems are lost. ^
' THEVENOT (Melchisedec), librarian to the king of
France, and a celebrated writer of travels, was born at,
Paris in 1621, and bad scarcely gone through bis acade-
mical studies, when he discovered a strong passion for
visiting foreign countries. At Brst be saw only part of
Europe; but accumulated very particular informations
and memoirs from those who had travelled over other parts
of the globe, and out of those composed his " Voj^ages.
and Travels." He laid down, among other things, some
rules, together with the invention of an instrument, 4^or
the better finding out of the longitude, and the declinatiou
of the needle ; which, some have thought, constitute the
most valuable part of his works. Thevenot was likewise a
great collector of scarce books in all sciences, especially in
philosophy, mathematics, and history ; and in this he may
be said to have spent his whole life. When he had the
care of the king^s library, though it is one of the best fur-
nished in Europe, he found two thousand volumes wanting
in it, which he bad in his own. Besides printed books,
he brought a great many manuscripts in French, English,
Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic,
Turkish, and Persic. The marbles presented to him by
Mr. Nointel, at his return from his embassy to Constan-
tinople, upon which there are bas-reliefs and inscriptions
of almost two thousand years old, may be reckoned among
the curiosities of bis library. He spent most of his time
among his books, without aiming at any post of figure or
profit; be had, however, two honourable employments;
for he assisted at a conclave held after the death of pope
Innocent X. and was the French king's envoy at Genoa.
He was attacked with a slow fever in 1692, and died Oc-
tober the same year at the age of seventy-one. According
to the account given, he managed himself very improperly
in this illness : for he diminished his strength by absti-
nence, while he should have increased it with hearty food
and strong wines, which was yet the more necessary on ac-
count of his great age. " Thevenot's Travels into the Le-
vant, &c." were published in English, in i687, folio; they
had been published in French, at Paris, 1663, folio. He
wrote also " L' Art de nager,** the Art of Swimming, 12mo^
1696.*
«
* Vouitti d« Po€L Grac. — Moreri. * Journal des Saraat, to]. ^.
ifO T H E V E T.
I
THEVET (Andrew), a writer of son?e note in the 16tk
century, swas born at Angoulesme, and entered the Fran*
ciscan order, and afterwards Tisited Italy, the Holy Land,
Egypt,. Greece, and Brasil. At his return to France im
1556, he quitted the cordelier^s habit, took that of an ec-'
ctesiastic, and was appointed almoner to queen Catherine-
de Medicis. He had the titles of historiographer of France,
and cosmographer to the king, and received the profits of
those offices. He died Nov, 23, 1590, aged eighty- eight,,
leaving ** Cosmographie de Levant," Lyons, 1554, 4to>
*^ A History of illustrious Men," 1671, 8 vols. 12mo, or
1684, 2 vols. fol. a work of very little merit; but the folia
edition is esteemed of some price on account of the por-
traits. He wrote also '^ Singularit^s de la France Antarc-
tique," Paris, 1558, 4to, and several other books, from
which the author appears to have been a great reader, but^
at the same time, to. have possessed great credulity, and
little judgment. *
THEW (Robert), an excellent engraver, wa^rborn m
1758, at Pattrington, in Holderness, in the East Riding o£
York, where his father was an innkeeper. At a proper age
be was placed as an apprentice to a cooper, at which bu««
siiiess, on the expiration of his apprenticeship, he worked
some time. During the American war he became a pri-
vate in the Northumberland militia ; at the conclusion of
which, in 1783, hie came to settle at Hull, where he coin-
menqed engraver of shop-bills, cards, &c. One of his first
attempts was a card for a tinner and brazier, executed in »
very humble style. He engraved and published a plan
of Hull, which is dated May 6, 1784, and afterwards soli-
cited subscriptions for two views of the dock at thafe
place, which, it is thought, be shortly after published. He
also engraved, while there, a head of Harry Rowe, the fa-
mous puppet-showman of York, after a drawing by J. Eng-
land. Another account says, that an engraving of an old
woman's head, after Gerard Dow, was his first attempt, and
appeared so extraordinary, that on the recommendation of
the hon. Charles Fox, the duchess of Devonshire, and lady
Duncannon, he was appointed historical engraver to the
prince of Wales, In 1788, the marquis of Carmarthen^
whose patronage he first obtained by constructing a ver^
curious camera obscura, wrote him a recommendatory let«
1 Moreri. — Diet. Hist
T H E w. m.
r * *
ler to Alderman Boy dell, who immediately offered bim 300
guineas to engrave a plate from Nortbcote's. picture of Ed-
ward V. taking leave of his brother the duke of York. He
afterwards engraved, for Boydell, a number of capital plates.
Crom the Shakespeare gallery, and from the paintings by
sir Joshua Reynolds, Shee, Westall, Smirke, Fuseli, North-;
cote, Peters, &c. all which are very extraordinary speci-
mens of graphic excellence, and have been highly and de-.
served ly approved by the coni\oisseur, and well received by.
the public. Of Boydell's Shakspeare, nineteen of the large
plates are from his hand. He had received very little in-
struction, but depended solely on native genius^ aided by
an intense application, by which he suddenly arrived at great
excellence in the art. Almost at the outset of his career
be became connected with Messrs. Boydell by extensive
engagements on their Shakspeare, a work which will long,
bear ample testimony to his rare merit and talents. The
distinguishing characteristics <of his practice consisted in
most ^ithfully exhibiting the true spirit and st:yle .of each,
master ; a most minute accuracy, a certain polish, and ex-
quisite delicacy of manner; with the appropriate character,
given to all objects, while a mildness of tone and perfect
harmony pervaded the whole piece. The Cardinal Wol-
sey entering Leicester Abbey, from Westall, is certainly
the greatest effort of bis skUI, and. is, by many of the best-*
informed connoisseurs and artists, held to be a first-rate
specimen in that style of engraving. This ingenious artist
died in July 1802, at Stevenage in Hertfordshire. ^
THIERRI, or Theodoric de Niem^ a native of Pader-
born in Westphalia, who was under- secretary at Rome to
Gregory XI. Urban VI. &c. attended John XXIII. to the ,
couiicil of Constance,' as writer of the Apostolical Letters,
and abbreviator ; but after that pontiff^s flight, wrote a
very violent invective against him, and died about 1417,,
leaving the following works: "A History of the Schism,"
which is very curious, and ends in 1410, Noremberg, 1592,.
fol.; a book concerning ^'The Privileges and Rights of the
Emperors in the Investitures of Bishops," printed in
** Schardii Syntagma de Imperiali Jurisdictione," Argent.
1609, fol. 3 «' A History of John XXIH." Francfort, 1620,
4to; and ^^ A Journal of the Council of. Constance." Tbi»
author's styU in Latin is dry and unpleasant, but very
> Gent. Ma|^. 1802.
972 T H I £ R R-I.
forcible, and bis narrations are accurate and faithful. Sofne
attribute to him tlie treatise '^ On the necessity, of Refori^
Illation in the Church, both with respect to its head an4
its members," which others give to Peter d'Ailli.' •
THIERS (John Baptist),, a learned doctor of the Sor-t
bonne, and a celebrated writer of the seventeenth century,|
was born at Chartres, about 1636. He professed belles*
lettres^ at Paris, and became curate of Vibrty, in the djo-*
cese of Mans, where he composed several of bis works^-
and where he died February 28, 1703, aged sixty-five. He
left a great many works, which are now but seldom read^,
though they are very learned^ and very often singular.
" The History of Perukes" is one of bis most known,
and curious books. He designed it again&t those ecclesi-
astics who were not contented to wear their own hair,*
The year 1629 (says he) is the epoch of perukes in France.^
He maintains, that no clergyman wore a peruke before
1660, and pretends that there is no instance of it in anti-r,
quity. He observes, that cardinal de Richelieu was the
first who wore a calot; and that the bishop of Evreux hav-
ing prefixed to the life of St. Francis de Sales (which he*
presented to pope Alexander VIIL) a print wherein that,
-saint appeared with a leather cap on, the pope bad mucin
ado to accept that book, attended witli such an irregularity.^
M. Thiers exclaims against those ecclesiastics, who. powder,
their perukes, and wear them of a different colour from ,
their own hair. He answers the arguments that may be,
alledged in favour of. the clergy. As for what concerns,
their beard and their bands, he says, no ecclesiastic wore,
a band before the middle of last century. There have,
been many variations about their beard. Sometimes sbav- j
ing was looked upon as a kind of effeminacy, and a long s
beard appeared very suitable with the sacerdotal gravity ; ;
add sometimes a venerable beard was accounted a piece of ^
pride and stateliness. When cardinal d'Angennes was about »
to take possession of his bishopric of Mans in 1556, he
wanted an express order from the king to be admitted with
bis long beard, which he could not resolve to cut. M.
Thiers acknowledges those variations about the beard ; but
he maintains that the discipline has been constant and uni-
form as to perukes ; and therefore, be -says, tiiey ought to
be Uid aside, and beseeches the pope and the king to sup- '
press such a novelty.
1 Dupin.— MorerL
T H I E R S. i7S
Among bis otber works are, 2. '' Traill des Superstitions
i|ui regardent lesSacremens/* 4 vols. 12fno, a book esteemed
agreeable and useful by those of bis own communSn. S.
^ Trait^ de Texposition du ^aint Sacrement de TAuteV
1663, 12nio. Some have esteemed this his best produc-
tion. Miny. other articles are enumerated by his biogra-
phers, but few of them interesting in this country. ^
THIRLBY (Styan), LL. D. a very ingenious and learned
English critic, was the son of Mr. Thirlby, vicar of St.
Margaret*s in Leicester, and born about 1692* He re-
ceived his education first at the free-school of Leicester,
under the rev. Mr Kilby, then head usher, from which
school he was sent in three years to Jesus college, Cam-
bridge, and shewed early m life great promise of excel-
lence. From his mental abilities no small degree of future
eminence was presaged : but the fond hopes of his friends
were unfortunately defeated by a temper which was na-
turally indolent and quarrelsome, and by an unhappy ad-
diction to drinking. Among his early productions of id*
genuity was a Greek copy of verses on the queen of She*
ba*s visit to Solomon. Iir 1710 he published ** The univer-
sity of Cambridge vindicated from the imputation of dis-
loyalty it lies under on account of not addressing ; as also
from the malicious and foul aspersions of Dr. Bentley, late
master of Trinity college, and of a certain officer and pre-
tended reformer in the said university,'' Lond. 1710. This
was followed in 17 12 by ^' An answer to Mr. Whiston's
seventeen suspicions concerning Athanasius, in his His-
torical Preface *,*' and by two other pamphlets on the
same subject. He obtained a fellowship of his college by
the express desire of Dr. Charles Ashton, who said ** be had
bad the honour of studying with him when young ;*' though
he afterwards spoke very contemptuously of him as the
editor of '* Justin Martyr," which appeared in 17!23, in
folio ; and the dedication to which has always been consi-
dered as a masterly production, in style particularly. After
Thirlby's publication of Justin, Dr. Ashton^ perhaps to
shew him that he had not done all that might have been
done, published, in one of the foreign journals, *' Some
* " VTritten by one rery young, tnffer hira to bestow upon them." Pre-
an*!, h« may add, at such bniken houri face. — It appears by another tract in
as many necessary avfcatiuns and a this controversy, that Mr. Thirl by was
very unsatUed ktate of health would then *' abojtiit twenty years old."
> Moreri.— Oict. Hist.
Vol. XXIX. " T
«»♦ T'H IB L B Y.
fioetidaUons ofhtAty passage^/' wbieb fvbenHiirii^jp Avvr,
1^^ said, slighUDgly, tb?t ** ai>y man wfao wauldi might bava
made jtbepiy and a bundred more.'' Tbiw far Mr. Tbirlby
Wfut od in tbe study. of divinity; but bi^ FettatUity led
bim to cry tbe round of tbe otber learned professions. Hii
next pursuit was physio^ and for a while be was calledl
** Doctdn" Wbile be was a nominal pbysician^ be liveA
4Pipe iime witb tbe duke of Chandos, ^as librarian, and is
reported to bave affected a perverse and indolent ipde*
pendeQce, sp as caplticio^lsly to refuse bis company wbeii
It was desired. It may be supposed tbey were soon weary
of escb other. ...
Tbirlby then studied tbe civU Htw, in wbich be lectueed
while the late sir Edward Walpole was his pupil ^ but be
v^as a careless tutor, scarcely ever reading lectures. Thm
late learned Dr. Jortin, who was one of bis pupils, waa very>
early in life recommended by bim to traiislate some of
£ustatbius's notes for tbe use of ^^ Pope's Homer," aodr
complained ^* that Pope having accepted and approved bis^
performance, never testified any curiosity or desire to soft
hinpl." The civil law displeasing bim,- he applied to com«s
m.oo law, aod bad chambers taken for bim in tbe Temple;
by bis friend Andrew Reid, with a view of being epteredr
of tb^sQciety, and being called to tbe bar; but -of tbis^
scheme be likewise grew, weary. He came, boweveri to^
l^ndoo, tO;thehous^ of his friend sic £dward Walpole^:
who procured for him tbe oflSce- of a king's waiter in bbei
port of Londopy in May 17419 a sinecure place worth about»
100/. per annum* While be was in. sir Edward's house hei
kept a miscellaneous book of memorables, containing i^bat-
evex was said or done amiss by sir Edward or any part of ■
his family^ The remainder of bis days, were passed in pri-r<
li^ate lodgings, where, be lived in a very retired mannefy.:
seeing only a few friends^ and -indulging occasionally in <
esccessive drinking, being sometimes in a state of intoxica-
tion for. five or sis w<eeks together ; and, as is usual with
siicb ipeUf appeared to be so even when sober ; and in his '
cups be was jealous and quarrelsome*. An acquaintance
Mrbo found bim one day in the streets harmiguing the crowd,
and took him home by gentle violence, was afterwards
highly esteemed by Tbirlby for not relating the story. He
contributed some notes to Theobald's Sbakspeare; and
afterwards talked of an edition of his own. Dr. Jortin un-
dertook to read over that poet, with: a view to mark the
T i! I R L ti fi i^*
fmalBLgen wheie be biid either ittiitatl^d 'Gf^e^ atid^ Latlh
writers, or at least had faUen into the sannnfe thoughts and
expresaidns. Vbirlby, boturerer, dropped his design ;* hvtt'
left a Sfaatep^re^ with soitie abusive reniaHcs on Watbui'-
ton in the margin of the fitst volume, aftd si Very fe^v" iit«
tenvpts at emendations, and those perhaps all in the first
vohune. In the other volames be had only,' with great di-*
ligenee, ieoviiited the lines in every page. When thisi was
told to Dr. Jortin, <<I have known him/' said be, ^* amuse
bimcielf wi^h still slighter emploiyment: be would write
down all the proper names that he could call into hTs- me-
mory.** His mind seem^ to have been tumultuous arid d^-
sfiltorv, and be was glad to catch any emt)Ioymdnt that
ifoigbi ptfaduce attention witbouft smxiety. - Tbe copy, such
as it was,- became the property of sir Edward Walpnle^tb
wbom be bequeathed ^11 his books and pap^re, and who*
lent it td Dr. Johnson when be was preparing his valuable
edition of " shakspeare** for the ffress ; accordingly thd
imme of Thirlby appears in it as a eomfhehtato'r. He died
Dec. 19, 1753* One of Dr; Thirlby»s coHoqtiial tdpics
may be quoted, as in it he seeriis to^ have dfa^n bis own
chatacten with one of those Reuses for which self-conceit
H never at a tosi. ** Sonfetime^," liaid he, ^* Nature sends
into the world a man of powers superior to the' rest, of'
quicker intuition, and wider comptehen^ioi^ ; this nian has
all other men for his enemies, and Wotild not h6 sn^refd
to live hh natural time, biH that his excellen^ctes are hi-
lanced by his failings. He that, by intellectual exaltation, '
thus towers above his conteMp^oraries^ is Smitkeft, or lazy^
Of capriciom; or, by some defect or othter, Is hindered
from exerting bis soveVeignty of Aftrfd ; Ke' is tlhns kept^
upon. <he level, and thus preserved from the destruction
which would be the 'tiatuM tioHsequence of i^iiiversai
hatred'*
Aa the edition of 9 JPustin Martyi*^ was Che magnum opus '
of Dr. Thirlby, and be is a wriferof whom little has^evqr'
hitherto been said, this article may be enlarged with the
opinions of some eminent scholars on that performance.
« The learned Mr. Thirlby," says Mr. Bowyer, « fellov^
of Jesus college, is publishing a new edition of ^Justin
Martyr's two Apologies,* and bis ^ Dialogue with Trypho
the Jew.' The Greek text will be J^rinied exactly a:ccjoi*d-
ing to R. Stephens's edition. The version is Langius's,
corrected in innumerable places. On the same page with
T 2
270 T H IR LjB Y.
the ttxt and version are primed tbe notes and eiiiendttion»
of tbe editor, with select notes of all the foraier editors,
and of Scaliger, Casaubon, SaUnasius, Capeilus^ Vale»iHs,
and other learned meor. Tbe most selected places have^
been collated witli the MS. from which R. Stephens's edi-
tion was taken, and the variation^ are inserted in their
proper places. At the f nd are bishop Pearson's notes from
the margin of his book, and, Drr Davb's notes upon the
first ^Apology ;* both now first printed*"
<^ You are much mistaken," says Dr. Asbton, inanun-
printed letter to Dr. Moss, *^ in thinking Tbirlby wants
some money from you (though in trtuh he wants) : ypa
are only taken in to adorn hiifr tviumph by a letter of ap-
plause, though I think you may spare that too; for be
is set forth in his coach, with great ostentation, to. visit
bis patron. I have not bad tbe patience to read all his de<»
dication, but have seen enough to observe that.it is stuffed
with self-conceit, and an insolent contempt of others, Bent-
ley especially, whom he again points out in. p. 18*. He
sticks not to fling scorn upon- Justin himself, as a. trifling^
writer, beneath his dignity to consider, and so absurd a
reasoner as only pemvfue litura can mend. I have. read
aboutsizty pages of his performance, and^m.really ashamed
to find so much self-sufficiency, and insufficiency. I am
almost provoked to turn critic myself, and let me te^upt
you to a little laughter, by promising to shew you some
conceits upon Justin \ wbich aie under no name io Thirlby'a
edition.''
In a letter from Mr. Clarke to Mr. Bowyer, dated Mavch
10, 17 6 8^ he says, << i think somebody has tokl me, thai
*• Justin Martyr's Apology' has been lately published from
Dr^ Ashton's papera; by whom I know not His * Hie-
rocles' shews that Needbam was not equal to that vifoi^k t
has this the same view with regard to Tbirlby ? 1'bat man
was lost to the republic of letters very surprizingly ; be
went o£^ and returned no more." ^
^ He treats Dr. Bentley in that page fuit, neque esse potuit, atpote neque
with the bigbe&t contempt* as be bad ingenfe, neque judicir», neqae si ve-
dooe before in hit prefiice. • He treats rum dioere licet dtMtriod, satis ad earn.
Meric Casaubon and Isaac Vossius in rem ioitructus." How different i« this>
a maDner not much different^ and of from the character given- him by that
Hbfi learned Dr. Orabe bespeaks ill bit learaed and truly good man Mr. NeU
preface as toltows: ** Grabius vir bo- son, in bis ** Life of bishopBull/' p..
nos, nee iodtx^tus fuit, et in scriptis 402.
patrttiii apprime versatus, criticus noii
1 Miebob'f Bowyer— sad Poems, taK VI. p. lU.
THOMAS. k7i
* *
THOMAS (Antony, Leonabd), ' a member of the
French academy, was born in 1732, at Clermont in Au-^
vei^ne, the country of the celebrated Pascal. He received
from his mother a severe, and almost a Spartati education.
The three children of that estimable woman were brought
up chiefly under her own eyes. His two elder brothers
died, the one in 1748, the- other in 1755, both young men,
and both having signalized themselves in literature. Jo-
seph, the eldest, had produced a comedy ; and John, the
second, excelled in Latin poetry. The death of bis second
brother, impressed Antony very early with a strong sense
of the vanity of worldly cares; and with a profound piety,
which enhanced the value of fats character. He had a de-
cided taste for poetry, but was designed for the bar. In
obedience to the wish of his mother, he went to CJermont,
to follow a study repugnant to his taste; but going with
her to Paris, waen John was at the point of death, his
friends offered him a professorship in the college of Beau-'
vais. This, therefoi^, he accepted, as more congenial to
bis' feelings, though less splendid in appearance, than the
profession for which he had been designed. He was
M>on'in high estimation for his talents as a poet and an
onCtor ; and M. Watelet, a rich man, and a man of letters,
offered him a pension' as a tribute to his merit ; but he'
efabde, vnth becoming pride, to owe bis subsistence to his
' own talents, rather than to the generosity of any one. He
vras afterwatxls^ secretary to the duke de Praslio,- minister
* for foreign affairs ; secretary to the Swiss cantons (an in-
dependent place in the gbveniment) ; and fihally secretary
to the duke of Orleans. He was also a' member of the
academy, though it is said that he once refused to be
chosen, when he found that he was proposed chiefly out of
{lique to another candidate, M. Marmontei. Without any
ortune but his pension from the court, and the trifling re-
ward he received for his assidnbus attendance at the aca-
demy, he continued to reside at Paris ; and latterly, with
a »ister who superintended his domestic concerns. But^
bis health being impaired by excessive application, he was
obliged to seek the more favourable climate of Nice, where
for a time he recovered the use of all his powers. But his
lunigft had always been weak, and being seized also with a
fef«r, he died September 17, 1785, in the house of the
^ archbishop of Lyons, and was buried at the neighbouring
village of Oalins« At the time of his death he was em-
^^t > S O M A S:
ployed 10. WEitiag.,a'po€m or the e«ar Petor tiie 6fMt|
styled the <^ P6trtode/' which has never bean piibliriied. -
The peraoual, cbajracter of M. Thomas, was held sttU
higher tha^ ev«n the merit of his wovks couid claini# Vm
had that amiable simplicity of manners which prevents a
man of g^niop ,fcom offending others by his superiority^
He was just^ moderate, gentle, an «nemy to noise and
ostentation, a good firiend, aiid an affeotionate son* H^
wa^ not indifierent to commeodi^tion or censure, hut re*
reived the .one without, vanity, and theoth^r without anger*
It w^s in 1756, that be first appei^red as an author, by
?ublishing, 1. ^< Refleixions bistoriqeea et Iti^rai^es sur le
otme de la Religion natnaelle^de Voltaire,'' ISmo, hv
t^ts able tcaot h^ defended revalaiion wilhont bigotry ; a^d^
aUowing t^^ great ti^lenta ol bis anMigpaistv lamjaoted hia
^rrofs, and treated him with pc4itenesf» 2> Iq lli9 he
iprrote and pfV)npunced his '< Elpge du Maresehal de $axe,''
1^ pertbrmance; whici^ gained him the crown from tbeacat
demy, and the credit of uniting the prepiaion of Tacitua
with the elevation of Bossuet. He pjMlueed i^t^ward^
similar orations in praise of d* AgueMeai^ da Guai Trouin,
Sully, and Descartes, whieb. wer^ equ^^Uy admired ; and
with aq additipqM eiiloginm on Mi^nsiis Anretms, pnlilishcid
together. by him^f„ with very valuable- notesr 5; Ii^ 17?9
l|.e piwtfluced his. *^ JE^ssai suf le« caraqtdre^ l0s. moears,. et
I'esprit di^s Fjpmmesr ' ft^mu This. 19 not esteeiped oqcialiy
jodicipos. ^ 4p ^^E^Bi sor le% Eloges^" 1773, 2 vob. Bvo*
This is A wofk .of g^eat geniiis; and dloquefice ; and oontaina
many able pprtri^i of iUiistrious persons* He produced
4^so, >. Several poem^^; a% >< Epitre au Feup]^,*' ^' Ode
aur ks temps,*' a^dv<< JumonviUe," with some others. ^
A ballet ii> three actSf called ^Ampbion;^' but thi^ is not
reckoned one pf the best powers in .hi»< orewn. : It was
played in L767. His prpse^wprks were published eeUec^
tively m 1773 ; and form 4 vols^ 12mQf but a B^ore caau
plete edition appeared in I18O2, 7. vols, dvo.^
THOMAS (Christian), a modern philosopher, was bora
at Leipsic, in 1653, and was well educatedi Brst under bit
father, and afterwards in the Leipsic university^ At fiffst^
he acquiesced iu.the. established doctrines of tbe» schools;
but, upon reading Puffendorrs <^- Appleby for rejecting tbe
ScjlioliMStic Principles pf Mprals^ and Law^" hOi detenpiueA
! Diet* Hist.— Europ. Mag. 1792.— Life by Deleire.
T tt a SI « s: fif I
thi^EMbimoe all implioit defenehce tb ahtteftl'dognills' I^i
reid iectores upon tbe iubject of nattiral law^fifrt frotai tb^
text of Grotius, and' after\^l^rd8 from that of Puffendorf,
flatly exercising his own judgment, and bbldly adTsCncing
/new opiniM8* Whilst bis father was living, pater^af pru[4'
(denee »iid< modectttion restraiif^d tbe natural i^eb^menci
end acrimony of 'the yoiing^nian'fi temper, which v^as too
apt to break otts^ Men in his public lectures. But wbeii
iie was teft lo himself, tbe bdldtess with which b^advahcel
unpopular ttoets; and ibe severity with which be dealt out
his satirical censures, soon brought upon* hitri' the violeTft
reftentment of theologians and prdfestoirs;
An << lotrodtietadn to Poffend6rf^'' wbich^ Tbbortas pbU-
lisbed in 1687,in whiob kededUb^ thl^ obligation of mehiHtjr
from mrtuMl principles, ocbaiioned gr^t ofiFeilce, #btich
be increased in tbe folidwing yeaf,' . by commencing a
inouti»ly> journal wbicb' be cf ailed <*Fre^ Tbbnglits: bt
Monthly Diaioguea on varioUH^ bookis, chiefly ildw^^' ifi
urtkich be attacked many of bl^ tontemjdoraH^i^ with such
severky,' and probably with sueb injustice, thatf bti heit^-
rowly escape pitni^ment from' the ecofledastldt) cbbii df
DresdetK A chai^ also of content^ df t'ellgrmi wah
brought against him, but niras^ dot prbs^ctkted. ^ A sMtiriciA
review, wfaicb he irrote^ of a tr^alis^' << Oh' tbef Diririe rigKt
of Kings," pabli^ed by a Danish divine; << A De^ce ctf
the. Sect of tbe Pietists,^' «Ad otb^r ^afeiridal pi^blieattonii^
at lafrt e>kciti5d tbe resentment df the clei^y aj^instTbomaif,
and be ftittud it neeessary to leave L^sic, a^d by the
pttirmisfii^n of this dlector of Brtndenburgb^ read privatb
feetureHi ih tdie eity of Hall. After a sb(^' interval,' be was
appointed' pubHc'pix>fes^dr of jurisprudfehce, first in Bei^-
Itd, atid aftehvards at Hal4. In tbese situations, hi^tbouglft
bimselfat fulitibert^ to indulge bis satirical bmhour, and
to engage 4n the controversies of tbd times ; and, as Ibng
as'be lived,' be^ohtitiued to tttake uto df this liberty in i
manner wbitsh ilttbje<ited hini to-much odium. He died at
Hrflin'l/728i
Be6idi;a i^e satirical journal already mentioned, Thomai
wrote seV^rat treatises oh logic, morals j and jurisprudence;
in Wbicb be advanced many dogmas contrary to received
opinions. In his writings on physics, b^ leaves tbe ground
<rf expetiment ahd rational invest^tidn^ and appears
among tbe mystics. His later pieces are in many particu-
lars intonsiSteAt wit)^ the former. His princtpar pbiloso*
ta» rmouAifSk
watkM ire << Ad lotKodaotnm to Avlk Vmomphfi «r
^iltlines to the An of Thiiikieg and Reasoning;** ^^In^
trodu^tiou to Rational PiiiloBopby ;*V <* A Logical Pmxts;*^
<< Introduction to Mpral Pbibsophy ;'* ^ A Core for Ivre*
gular Passions, and the Doctrine of Self-Knowtedge;^^
^ The new Art of disooTOciog the aeofet Thoughts of 'Men ^^
<^ Divine Jurisprudence;'' ^' Koulddations of the Law: of^
>Iature and Nations ;" ^^ Dissertation on. live Crime of Ma«
fie;". <* Essay on the Nature. and Essence of 8pitfit» ot
rinciples of Natueal and Moral Science ;'-' << History of
Wisd(^m and Folly.*'
Brucker gives the following brief apeoimefi of the more
peculiar tenets of this bold, eccentric^ and inconsistent
philosopher. *^ Thought arises firom 'images inspr^ssed
upon the brain; and the action eftbiinkiiig is perfonned Vk
the whole brain. Brutes are destitute of sensation. ' Mall
is a corporeal substance, capable of thifiking«and nio^iit^^
4>r endued with intellect aiMl will Mao^ does not always
think. Truth is the agreement of thought with the natuffe
of things. The senses are not deceitful,^ but^all %lhicy Is
the effect of precipitatioa and prejudice. ^ Fn^m percept
lions arise ideas, and their relations ; and from these, rea^-
aonings. It b impossible, to disco¥er troth' by the syllo^
fistic art. No other rule is necessary in« reas^niRg, thah
|h«it of following the natural order of investigation ; be^
ginning from those thiaga which are best known, and pro-
ceeding, by easy ateps, to those, which airie more difiicult,^
** Perception, is a passive affection^ produeed by some
external object, either in the intellectual sense, or in th^
iuqlination of the will. Essence is that 'without which a
thing, cannot be perceived. God is not perceived by. the
intellectual sense, but by the inclination of the will: for
creatures affect the brain ; but Qod, the heart. All crea^
turesare.in God : nothing is exterior tohim. Creation k
extension produced, from nothing by the divine power-
Creatures are of two kinds, passive Und active ; the. former
is matter ; the latter, spirit. Matter is dark and cold, and
capable of being acted upon by spirit, which is light, warm^
and active. Spirit may subsist without matter, but desires
a union with it.. All bodies consist of matter andrspirii,
and have therefore some kin J of life. Spirit attracts sfiirk,
and thus sensibly operates upon matter united to spipt.
This attraction in man is called love ; in other bodies, sym-
pathy. A finite spirit may .be considered' aa, a Umiteni
T H O M A Si
St»
•
«|i)KNPCf ;»- wMcb fay V himinous^ wmnta, ani ftbdve, fliMf
ffom a centra* Spirit is tbe regtoo of the body to wbich it
isuDitecl. .The region of finite spiriis is <70d. The hu-i
m^n soul is a ray from tbe divine nature; whence it de-
sires union with God| wbo is love. Silioe the essence of
spirit consists in action, and of body in passion^ spirit may
Insist without thought: of this kind are light, ether, and
other active principles in natu>e.'* . Fortunately, says 4
^€ry. >udiciuus writer^; this jargon. is aa uninteiUgihle aa tb^
^ategori^s of Kant, and the blasphemies of Spinosa*^ i
THOMAS (EUZABETH), known to tbe world by th€
same of C^rinoji, with which Dryden flattenrd her, was
born in 1675; and, afeer a life of ill health and* varioiai
disappointments, died Feb. 3,. 1730, in. her fifty-sixth yeai^
jsnd was buried in tbe cbuccb of St. Bride. Among ber
jather misfortunes, she laboured under the displeasure off
Popje, whom she bad offended, and who took care to place
Jier in bis /^ Duociad.'' He oooepaid her a visit, in conv^
jiany witb Henry Cromwell, esq. whose tetters,t'by some,
accident, fell into her bands, with seme of Pope's answers.
As. soon as that gentleman died, Curll found me^tns tb
wheedle. th^o^ from her, and immediately coi;amitited theiH
.to tlie press 9 whieh so enraged Pope^ tbathe never forgave
ber» Corinna, considered as an aiitbor, has very few
claims to notice : she had not so much wit as Mrs. Behn dr
JMUis* Manley, nor so happy a gift at intellectual . painting;;
but her poetry was once thought soft and debcate, and her
letters sprightly and entertaining. Her poems^ were pub«
Jished after her death, by Curll; and two volumes of le^
ters (under tbe title of <^ Pylades and Corinna,'') which
passed betiireen ber and a Mr. Gwynnet, who was to havte
,been ber bjusband, but died befoi:e matters could be atf*
^ompliiifhed. .. In this last publication she gives ah account
Qf her own life, which has been abridged in Cibber's
^* Lives,*' and other collections ; but which Mr. Malone h^s
proved sucfb atissue of improbabilities and falsehoods, that
,a mere reference to it may be thought sufficient. '
, THOMAS (John), bishop of ;Rochester, the. eldest of
three squs of the rev. John Tuomas, many years vicar of
Brampiou in Cumberland, was born at Carli&le Oct. 14,
.1712. Many of bis ancestors, both on the paternal and
* Brncker^-^Suppl. to the Eocycl. Brit.
• Life as aboTe.— Malone^s Dryden, vol. I. p. 347. II. p. 9S, 108.— iJowlM's
T HO H AS.
«atenml udi^ were re«»rkable fer Aeir longief i^'; sd^tkfilt
iie migfat .be cdnsidered as* <^ born with sooaeiihat Hkis ei^
liereditary claiAi to leogtb of daya^/' Being designed for
tfav church, at a proper age be was plac^ in tbe gram*
ttiar-'school at Carlisle, whence he was sent to Oxford^ \h
173(V ^aady on tbe I23d of November, i«as adiiiitied a edm-
ittoner of- Queen' t^eoU^e. Soon after bis admissiciU' be
had a ^i^rksbip* given bitti by Dr. Smitb, then prbtost
'Having discharged tUsoffioe, and ooosplet^ bis terms^
he put on a civilian's gown, and, leairtpg Oxford, becatail^.
SMt assistant at tbe olassical academy in Sobo^square. In
this situation be acquitted bisMelf so weU, as to-be r^oem^
mended lobe privaife tutor to ibd younger son of sir Wil*'
liam Clayton, bart. a charge which led to his' future cAe^;
'vatian. How longbe retnainedanit, is not precisely known,
but probably till he had completed bis pupil's educilion'.
His conduct, however, was so well approved^ that shortly
aftep, with the consent of sir William Claylori, the sisteir
of bis pupil, on the death of faiev first busbftndy sir Cbarteifr
Blackweli, of Sprowston-hall, Noifolk^ beearme bis l^^ife. .
Mr. Thonaas lived in habits of tbl§ closest friendship with
bis brother-in-law, until about 1784, when tbat gemle^
nan n^et a premature- death, occa^oned by a fall from' bis
horse; . ^
On the ^7tb of March, 1 7 »7v Mr. ThoAlas Wilis ordained
a dea<^>n, by sir George Fledfing, bishop of t^arlisle, at .,
a special ordination bolden in^ tbe thapeV of John the
Baptist, within the preokicis of tbe^ Savoy; In the Strand-; :>
and, on the 25th of Sepcembet, in the samls year,- be wak\
ordained prieit, by Dr. Joseph Wilooehs, bishop 6f Rb^
Chester, at a general ordination bolden iti tbe parish c^Beb
of Bromley, in the xM)unty of Ketft, The prooiotitfn of
Dr. Herring (afterwards archbisbop of Ganterbtiry) in tbii,
same ycj^r to the see of Banger,* occasiensid a vacancy iik
the rectory of Blechingley) to wtridh Mt» Thontas wIBk? ^e- .
sented by bis majesty, Geoi^ IK • through tbef ititerest^- of '
sir W. ckyton, and was instituted, on tbe 27tb of Janui^y', f
by Drv Benja«mn Hoadly, bishop of Win<:faester. Durmg
his incumbency 00 this preferment, wbich Was tfalrCy-stx
years,^ Mr. ThoiAas chiefly resided in tbe rbctbifiaKbou^t^
wfaiob he enlarged, improved/ and enibelilsb^ afr a^ V^jr "
considerable expence. In the discharge of his parx>cbiai ^
duties, in wbicb he never omitted any thing whidi he con-
ceived might conduce to the ti^poridior spir^iud interest! z
THOMAS: i0»
bif* |»ar)ifai0j9ei!8) he vma fotr some tiitia HM&sted %y hb
bfot^h^ ; and, afiev his pmMnotion t» a vicavag^ in Nor*
folk, by Ibe rev» WiUiam Tbompsoo, the poet.
On tba^5tb o£ Bfoy, 174^» ACr. Thomas took the degrae
of D* C» L« ; in tbe year following hismairriage took placed;
on the idtiiof January, I748| be was appointed oii^)laiii
in ordinary to bis late majesty, George 11. ; on tbe d3d of
Aprils 1754, be was made prebendary ol Westminster;
4MI the i2tibof Deeeodber, l7€eQ, he was appointed chaplain
tto^ bis, present ma^esly, by the king*S: o^er, and withont
any applieatton^ Xn 1*76(2^ he wafr appointed snb^aiinoneY
to tht ardbbisbcip :<rf York, an oflke rather bonorary tfaaii
Incnutive; »nd in I766v was instituted to tile vicarage df
3tk BrideS in London, oH tbe presentation of the dealt and
ebapter of Westiminster. In 176^^ be socceeded Dr. Pearee
as dean^^' Weatminster, atKl soon after was chosen thearefa^
bishop of Canterbury's prolocutor- to the lower *^house of
Doa^oca^om In 4772, he met with a severe shock m tbe
death of bis wife,; and , in 1774, lost bis valuable friend
Dr. Peafce. fa November foMowing be succeeded- him,
^< aceondUng- 1» bis- (Dr; Pearce'?) most eam^t: wish;*' ih
the bishopric of Rochester. On the anaient palace at
BiTomley^ which be fonnd in a ruinous and dilapidatad con-
dtticih,. be expended upwards of three thousand pounds';
displaced' gfvat oMinifioetiGe in repahring anti rebiiildiftg
k^, and in dispoatng and embelliabing the epi^c^pal de-
meanea; and, fddni bis regard for social wersbtp, a little
before bis death he gave BOOL towards enlarging the parish
4Bbiiiiei» at ByomkiF.
The bishop added one to tbe many instances bf men \yfae
baviO' bee« peculiarly fortunate in their first mahriagie/andv
deeply»>c0«eemed at ita dissoiutiony seek^f^g ^^nselaition in
a^seeondw SuebeensoliHiikMidid bis V>irdahip seek in ase?-
cendaaaertage- with lady Etiaa^etb Yates, relict of air Jot-
aeph Yates^ late one of tbe judges of the court of King^s*-.
benob, to whom bewaemanried^ by. speciaMicence, on tbe
ISlh ef January, 1<775, at Westminster^abbey. In this
oniony be waa aa happy aa the* great- disparity of age would
permit* Though twice msurried, he had no issue; but
eaebt of bis» ladies bhmgbt him a son and a daughter by
tbeif foMser husbands^, and to these he shewed a parentsd
effseiiom
. Agfir and! its. natufal.eoacomitants^ for some few years
before- bis death, almost incapacitated the bishop from any
au THOMAS.
bborious chity ; ^tit, so zealous was he in the discharge bf
hk function, that he held a general confirmation not long
before his last lingering and fatal illness, and continued to
preach both at court and* at Brooiley, till near bis eightieth
year. He expired, in great composure, about eleven o'clock
on the mortiing of Thursday, August 22d, 1793, having
completed his eightieth year on the preceding 14tb of Oc-
tober, 1 792. The manner of his death was perfectly agree-
able to his wish, expressed in a letter written to bis brother
on the death of his first lady, ** without a sigh or a groan.'*
Tbe bulk of bis fortune wa» bequeathed to bis relations, in
such proportions as corresponded with the proximity of
kindred, and the expectations which he had encouraged;
bonds and notes, from diiFerent friends and acquahitances,
lo tbe amount of 5000/. were cancelled ; legacies^ mourn-
ing, 8cc. were presented to his servants ; and several sums
were appropriated to charitable purposes. In bis last wiH
and testament, the bishop had made no provision for the
manner or place of his interment : but, in a cancelled will,
made as far back as 1774, he had directed his remains to
be deposited by those of his first lady, and this direction
was conseqtiently carried into effect.
In 1803 a valuable collection, in 2 vols. 8vo, of his <* Ser-
mons and Charges,'* was published by the rev. G. A, Tho-
mas, bis lordship's chaplain and executor, with a Memoir >^
of his Life, to which we are indebted for the preceding
particulars, as well as for tbe following sketch of bis cha-
racter. '
*^ His lordship was in stature above tbe middle height,
standing about five feet eleven inches. In the early part
of his life he^was slender, and of so delicate a constitution,
that bifr father used to say, he was propped up by art and
medicine. But, as he advanced to maturity, his constitu-
tion acquired strength : yet be never increased to any de-
gree of corpulence. His figure was elegant and manly, 'and
Its dignity comported with die natural elevation of bis mind :
at all times inspiring respect and veneration, but particu*
larly when he was engaged in any of tbe sacred offices of
religion, which he always performed with such a devotional
ardour and fiMrvenciy, as seemed to add a peculiar sanctity
and spirit to the native gracefulness of bis appearances
His countenance was the faithful index of his soul, opeuy
platcid^ and benevolent. His features were regular^ and
TH O M AS.
2»$
geMrmlly softened with tbe most gracioas smile of com-
plaeeucy and benignity. .
^^ His, intellectual abilities w^re above mediocrity ; and
ibe endowments of nature were improved by tbe appliea*
Jtion of art and ;study. He had a lively and chaste^imagt'^
nation, a qnick apprehension, a sotind and penetrating
judgment, and a retentive memory. He excelled equally ,
in learnings science, and the polite, arts. He was an adept
in niusic, and a connoisseur in. painting. He was, in his
^arliei; days, perfectly acquainted with the practice as well
as the theory of music ; having been a performer on two
difficult instruments. For this agreeable art he entertained
s^ passion to his latest days. He was a great lover of anti*
3uity, and well skilled in the knowledge of coins and me«
als, and of these, as also of prints and paintings, be left
valuable collections. There was no feature more promi-
oent in ^his good bishop's character, than a zealous and
uniform attachment to our unrivalled constitution. It was
the, warmest wish of his heart, to see our excellent and
happy form of government, both in church and state, pre*>
served free from ^ the contagious influence of superstitious
tyranny on the one hai\d, and licentious, anarchy on tbe
other."
It is somewhat. singular that there were three prelates of
tihe saine nadnes, John Thomas, who ran their course nearly
together ; Dr. John Thomas, successively bishop of Peter-
borough apd Salisbury, who died in 1766 ; Dr. JohnTlio^
mas, successively bishop of Peterborough,- Salisbury^ and
Winchester, w1m> died in 17&i *» and the sabjedt.of the
preceding article. *
THO^JLAS THE RHYMER.— See LERMONT.
THOMAS (Willum), a learned writer of the sixteenth
century,, was born in Wales, and was at least of Welsh ex»
traction,, and educated. at Oxford. Wood says that one of
both bis names was, in 1529, admitted bachelor of canon
law, but does not say that it was this person. In 1544,
1 Life as above.
* *' There were at that time two
Dr. Thomas's, who were hot easily clis-
tipguisbed; for fiomfbody was .speak-
ing of Dr. Thomas. It was asked^
which Dr. Thuroas do yon mean } Dr.
Jobo Thoma*: — ^Tbey are. both, named
John. Dr. Tboma& who has a liviof
in the city,— They hare both livings
in tbe city. Dr. Thomas who is chap-
lain to the king.-— They are both chap-
lains to tbe klof . Dr. Thomas who is '
a very good preacher.— They are both
very good preachers. Dr. Thomas
who squ iDts.^-They both sq u I nt They
were afterwards both bishops." Bi^boyt
Newtpn's Life.
«t ^ THOMAS;
h^fh§ ObJiged to quit tbe kiogdofli on aecouftt of 80m«( iiifN^.
fortune, he went to Iialy^ and in 1546 was at Bologne^ and
affterwards at Padua. 1» l$4f9^ be wu again in Lon<i^6t^
aod on ac^^ounl of bit knowledge of modern languages, wui
made clerk of tbe council to king Edwurd VI. who soon'
aft^ gave him a prebend of St. Paiit\ and tlie living of
Prestbend in South Wales. According to Strype^ be teted
yery ui^iairly in procuring the prebend> not being a Vpi*
ritual person ; and tbe same objecsioir undoubtedly resta
against bis other promotion*. On the accession of queen
Mary, be waa deprived of bis eoployaseDt at eouft, and i^
said to have meditated tbe death of tbe queen; init Bale
says it was Gardiner whom be formed a design of murder^
iDg. .Others think that be was con<ierned in" Wyat'a re<^'
I^lHon. . It is certain that for someof these charges, be was
committed to the Tower in 1 55S, together with Williaih'
Winter and sir Nicholas Throgmorton. Wood ssys^ *^ He^
was a. man of a hot- fiery spirit, bad sucked in damnable'
principles by his frequent conversations with Cbristopber
Croodmau, thai violent enemy to tbe rule of women.'* It
appeara thaA be had no rule over hinrsetf^ ^r about a week
a^ter bb coimmitmeaty be attempted sutdde, but the wonud^
not proving mortal, he was arraigned at Guildhall^ May 9,^
1553, ahd banged at Tyburn, on tbe IStb. *
' His works are, 1. ^^he History of Italy,'' Lond. 15^9, 1 J6!/
4lo, 2. ^ The principal rules of tbe Italian Gramihiar, with]
a^dictiQuary for the better understanding of Bbecacce, Pe-
tfareht and Dante,'' ibid, 1550, 1561, 1567, 4td; S. <^Le*
Peregrynne, or a defence of king Henry VIII. to Aretine
tbe Italian poet," MS. Cott. Vesp. D. IS, and in Bodl.^
Library. This, Wood says, was about to be - published in
the third volume of Brown's ♦* Fasciculus." 4. " Comnron
Places erf State," written for tbe use of Edward VI. MS.
Cott 5. *^Of the vanity of the World,'^ Lend. 1549, 8vo.
5. ^< Translation' of Cato's speech,' and Valerius's answer,
fj[om the 4th .decade of Livy,^' ibid, 155 f, 12m6; Re aiso
made some translations from the Italian, which are still in
manuscript. '
THOMAS (William), bishop of Worcester, was son of
Mr. John Thomas, a linen-Klrsper in the city of Bristol, who
Kved in a house of bis own on the bridge in that tQwii, where
the bishop was born on Thursday, February 2, 1613, and-
1 Sale.— TaiHier«^^4b. QSi ToK L nesr €dit. . . . -»
THOMAS Mf
lyap^i^ied there in St. Nicholases ohnrch, on the Friday fol«
lp,\f]ag^ H^: was of a very aBcieot and noble «fainiiyi m
^l>pears by a pedigree taken out > of the iieralds'-qffice by
Wiliimn Tbomfas lord bishop of Worcestf r« in 16as, to
prove bis. right to the Herbert arias. His osotfaer was £U«
l^i^belb B(oiU)t, descended from tbe Blounta of Eldersfieicly
in the county of , Worcester* His grand&tberi WiHian^
Tbon»as^ was pe^ordi^r of .Caermarthea, where lie and his
£a,9)ily had for a long time. lived in ^reat credit; and the
eai"! pf NortbamptODy then lord president of Wales^ g^^^
WfB this character, ^' tbat^he was- the wisest and most pniw
deo^ person he ever knew member of a codrpdration 9^ tfaie
geatlejoaao^ after the death of their son, undertpok the cani^
^f hi^ graedson ; which trust he eseeated with the greatest
c^e atid attention, placing him under the taition of MrJ
Morgan Owen, master of the public school at Cdermai^heny'
^terwards bishop of Landaff: iiere he continaed tiH he:
went to St John's college^. Ox^ord^ in the eaxteeath year
of his age, iu Michaelmas- term, 1629; from hence he res
moved to Jesus. college, where he took liis degree of B. A.
1632^ and soon after was. chosen fellow of the' college, andt
appointed tutor by the priocipaL Here, aecoidtng to tbw
fashioa of the times, he studied mweh achool philosophy,
and divinity, epitpaiiziag with his own band all tbe worksf
of Arisiotle: be took his degree o£ M.A. Feb. 12, ier34„
was ordained .deacon by. John Baaeooft,* bishop of Oxford^
at Christ phurcb, Ji^ne 4, 1637, and priest in the year fbU
luwihg at tbe same place,, and by tbe same bishop/ Soon
aftes be was appointed vicar. of Penbryn, in Cardiganshire,
and chaplain to tfaeearl of Noitfaumberland, who presented
him to. tbe vicarage of Laugharn, with tbe rectx)«y of Lan«:
s^durnen annexed. This presentation^ being disputed, he
determined . to give it up; but the earl encoutaged htm to-
persevere, assuring him that he would be at all the ezpence
and trouble; inconsequence of which^ the dispute was soon*
ended, and Mr. Thomas instituted : here he determined to^
reside^ having no other thought but how best to perforin bis
duty; and that he might be more fixed, and avoid the in-
conveniences of a solitary single life, be resolved to marry.
The person he chose was Blanch Samyne, daughter of Mr.*
Peter Samyne, a Dutch merchant in Lime-street, London,
of an ancient and good family^ by whom he had eight child-
ren ; William, who died young, feter, John, Blanch,'Bridger,
William, Sarah^ and' Elizabeth* Here he . religiously per-^
SH T H aMik&
fofttied areiy duty of a parbh prietly eilMMAg.kiii«M4
pbyjiioit not a timde, lint a triMt, lill about 1644^ a fiairl|r
of the parliamem borse came to La«iglparii| and ifN|«ifMBf4
whether that popMi priest Mr. Thomas was stUI .thiiii^
and whether he contitoed reading the liturgy^ mtAmnftgrn
iag for the queen ; aod one of them adding, tint he afaotild
go to church next Sunday, and if Mr* Thomiw perswvwre4
in pra3ring for that drab of the whore of Bal^loii, be wuiid
certainly pistol bioi. Upob this, M«^ Thooias^s fnMdi^MMNr
nestly pressed bioi to absent himself ; but be^rsftisedf Mkitfp
ing it would be a neglect of duty. ' He no sponer liegam
tbe service, than the soldiers came and placed 'tbemsemHl
in the next pew to him, and when be prayed for tim*qMlHi|
one of them snatched tbe bode out of bis band^ «n1 tfardw
it at his head, saying, *^ What do yon meaa by pray iag* fbt
a whore and a rogue V^ The preacher bore it with pattsnue
and cmnposure; but the soMief who bad^coounitted^tlie
affiront was instantly seized' With muAi ansciety am^ea<N
punction, that bis compacioBS were forced . to emfry^atik
away. ' Mr. Thomas continued the sfrviee,' and* dflivwiM
tbe sermon with his -uiual emphasis mid pvepiie^^^ uatf
when be returned to his house, he there feutid dfteusotdtem
ready to beg his pardon, and desiring bis prayers to CM
for them. When this happened, he was about tbirly-dfree
J ears old. Soou after, the parlisuttent eemmitcee ^deprtredt
im of tbe living of Laugharn; and theogh a piftnoipa|
member of that body bad been bia pupU and patticubRr
friend, yet he refused, to shew him any 'fawur, aaying, ^*tf
be was bis father, be would do him no service uutosa h#
sNiold take the coreoaut.'* From this time tiH ^tbe restora«
tiou, Mr. Thomas endured great ba^dshipsv being • suf*
hater -to the amodnt of above fifteen hundred pounds, and^
for the support of his family, obliged to teaefaa private
sebool in the country; and though bis frienda often made
bim liberal presents, yet his wife and nomeroua family
were firequentiy in want of common necessaries.
At the restoration Mr, Thomas was re-instat^d in bis
living, and by the king's letters patent made chanter of StC
David's. In this year he took bis doctor's degree in dirt«»
ntty, carrying with him a letter from the chancellor, who
said thus of him : ^' I have beard o^ his great worth and
deserts, as well in respect of his learning and orthodox
judgment, as of his most exemplary life and conversation.^'
In 1661, be was presented to the rectory of Lladbtder itf
tUeUKSL |8»
flw^Viiey; in ifat^c^My ^»mihmlti^ Uy fen* dbtJktOht
Uf4$9 uilf*ifti(t «btpWti to %te dtike <^ Yoiik, w|m>«i h^
ininiirf fBJib^ifiij^^^ lo SMiairkyiii wh0ie f««ilj^b^ coik
#mtd MMie Mi^ iin4 Math: wlMHibe twis in one of xht m^
#Wgt|<«i»f> agakiil tiie !)iiiitii.> By the interast of ibd
^iriB« Aiul dHietaMe#tto»f h« nm {MrDttoied to ifae ilMiierjr
#f Mnhmmm^ Nw* H^^ l#60^ tn.lbe worn oi Dr. ThMioii
lATiraMvit^ 40M^^. iieroi though a straogev, he he^
Iit«t4 MMelf w Mcli « nuMr u lo g«in the «ffectaou» of
dft iiN( ||«aii«fii*a of the county, pwrttculariy th« dnW of
8iii»|pfi» lord WI»(kof, mfiservmrdhi creMd carl of Ply:,
iiomb^ and ^r J#kii PaJMagtw : the l«st,' ^at he ' might
(fmfii^y meee of hia- etm^m^ ppeeeotcMi Um tt» the reeiory
^ Hanjieoii Lo«6t m the haftniiHig of lOTO. Upon thia
4mi Milled his limg at L4nfhani, and re»eved hisfcinily
W mmmpumk, He«e he ei^eyed an eaayiaed pleasant m-
Meeieni, mui he was «fteii h^^d aa tay that this wai th^
|rieeeeaee9ti pact of 4Ha Ufe^ ahd (hat here he had vaoi^
4|iiiM eed aatiaiMtieK whbitt hiniell 4tee when he waa
«Jher«Mds mh thw. h^{heat ooAer ^t the xdnuieb. Jiere also
km fiae^Md ^fa>w> ta aetreh tteiat aiiti^Mkyt to «)tevgebia aftied^
indr leeMRsh; it wifeh faeilfial hoowledge : butliSa pieattt^
mece «M wiihwiitidlaf, ^9' dmoglw naaidenoe hene ia
4$7f, hii hetaneid wiie'<yed, juid wa^ buried hi onwof the
eidi iilet ^ the ^aihedaai wbuvoh of Woreeaten ^ In thia
Mw 9im he ffea-preaaottd to the seaof St.Di|vid'ay wd
weld the^aawtrfi.ef. Weroe«Mr ia coneieiidaiD* He waa
wry wpeaplaMe to thwi geetry awd clarf^ of thati^liotfeie^f
km had^hwe• hiwd ap mmtmg; thfrai, apake their leageage^
ami had heee m hilhi w iaflhitif with mmoj jof «beaii it tthf^
ieie tjeehtiwinwft tiaieai liia jbalneiqwDoanfirawd tfa#r ws-
fiaelatiieeii hia genefenateief ei i^teed edth.theiva, biithip^
thief >^aecer»./aMa «at to* mmch .to<ipleaie 4faeir hipjomn^ «t^
t» OBr«ett Aek «Meal% ^eod aal»e theiri'SeiiU ; to fvumofm
i|poefiitl|F^taid^oda«f%eed to aew the ■etda ef holkieia
amooff ^eai^- iici hegna to jrepair the palicici al Biwek*
aochiamd dkbwrgwi%i* he paeached Ineq^^^y i^ aetfend
pMia* aif hia diteeio aa.<tbe latgaafw of the opantry^ and
waa very iaalru«iettal:ia piweriagtbe twuadatiou of the
BiUe into Webb;, HeewdetiMKired all he could, to remove
the eathedaal aanrioe froai.St> David*a to Caenaactbea ; the
|Qnatr<heia9.a plaoeofaa trader little fraqa^tted^ situated
ia a. ooraer of the kingdom, twelve Jong miles from any
ipwrtwv tflgtOf . Ifae eattedral ruinous, the bishqp's palace
Vol. XXIX, U
«W T 010 MAS.
^n4iniK» ^ceptjiajreceine (their r^vaottAs^ and/ bdI; oui».iiMI^
icing Uii ottt»iii r«piHriiig.Uie6albhc4i»Vaft9r>^eJ'e4torAt}aii.
.Oil the cpntiwry, Gaermaiibaobe kA^«v4o.4»eia.K«i9h;iHHl p^^t^
{^diIqiis i««vp i th« .gi'Mt church, cdf^^ble^ of hcingfOiade: da^
psnt and handsome, and the epUcefpai/boAue jȣ Aberg^uiUjr.
\0Xy near, where the bUhop conMaptliy iresid^iM .-QfiplhaBe
«K»tives.be set abQut the work very bearuAjr^bi^t avei wHh
llie fiuaoe aucciess as bishop Bariow hadidona t^^afere.
Having been bishop of Ht. Davcid's M jf^eawio be ii«as
iranslated to ,the see of Worcester, in the fd^i^^i hM^^p
f l^etweod.i. As seen as he knemr 9i tt^iappoinliiMiil^ ^bp«
Jeiidsbip» .livlio.jseyer waa a ioves' ^ .ioQ.My,><deBisted|qeisi
any further ireaty with several .ieisi^iitsr^f'tbd'bil^opi?ic<of
St. David'sy aed refused .Ti^y.cxie^iidbsiwULer. finest. e&erv
iwards> xeoeived;by bishop Woiiiark. . fb^fSftn^itoWofnam*'
tex in August 4683,^ and. was condAiafted iio :biaipalaM<'i99^
tfaip gentjry and clergy of ^ts dibces^ wbiire - they : w««e 4»lr
t^tainedvery bandaocaelyy and..«ver .s£ier ifi^sndtiarpliMkr
ti/ol table aud. hearty welcome ;< he being. aiwagNBi<of 'Opit-
;aipa that, in order to^amend the.niorqAs#£)!^he.pebpi|a9iliie
Axst step mis to;g^iii iheic iaoyN^inianne ,^nd^ ^affectieifc
.Upon this prineipl% lite was a great leyeff.o£4aofq»iUdily
Md charity^ the poor of theneigbbo9rh.oMi)iMMre<daiiy>fed
etJbisdoor, a;id be sent pravisioiiaJtwii)0>a.we^k^;tOTiMi(e
MtnOAon prison, besides <very large, sttiest^gtve^ ,^heria>jpi^
aaw occasion. &iMae may tbiuk that hO'.oasffied^ibis feeftr
ter to excess^ for thongh be fnequesiAly'^vas be#i44iO'8ejn
,M be dreaded, debfe m a;iin," through bis ttxteosiife ^harii^^
fod the necessary. oaUs oS a naeieMHis fiiflMiiyy he a9iMli«sei
brought bioMelf to theveiige of it, be laMk|io|ruprfoeifaiiaifr
aelf or bis children ) and» when "cbargediby S6»)eral S»n ne^
jirQvidftng for bis jown honsehoU, hm a^siaeff alwifips jwafi
^'^ that no bishop or priesfe:waa.4o «einiiieb hiaisel^ieilii, or
jraise his iaBiily out of the revenuea' of ^bei cbtveb i tha&
ibe sacred cauoaf fonbade (it ; ^and that S^f bis^part ij^waa
taKdved that none of his sboidd be tberiri|?r for^eai, as
ke.was only 6od*» steward, and bouadto'^pease tfaeOEiJf
bis glory in works of obaidty andpiety*'^ He mm eictveoiely
<€ar«€fil wbat persons be ordained/; bis cefMur6»«irere siisb
«:qpi;essed ia the softest words^ anditiv'kh'aa bomM^mr^i
such tenderness and brotherly compassion as always gainedf
the more iDgenqoua, and left the incorrigibie without- es^*
cttse. H|e oiMstantly attended six o^elock praQFcnrs m the
T ti O H A S. tM
tfMkednili io>4tiifg^ M bid faeft1ifar#&iiM permiii ihdtifMn
oooiplHint froitiniH5fabhftn>p Sheldon, dated Jiine 4, 1670)tfanBt
the^dlilies of teMJingthfe chureh'service and adoiinkfesrhtf^
tdi^ Mcrameivts were too ttodh -he^etmi by dignified p6v»
ifMtff ^ the d«an^ i^d ^Hnonsy ai if ifc m^e an office bele#
ttiM^ and lefe fof tto WIum paril te be perfomed bj theit
¥teaf9drpeUy€atTdns', totheo^noeof the cburcb's frieiild%
ahll the- advantage of sectaries, And tbetr own jaet r^t*
proach ;?* hCf tifgethpt^ with the prebendertet, so orleKed^
lAie ^eiid^ee, that one ov two of tb^m genecaily officiated
At Ihd cemiiilitii<»n. The bishopi at bis iirst visitation Af
tte dtftfM^iandeltaf^ler; b^ bis own autberity, and their ceni
%«Mehel»,- firoommd a chapter act to-be nide, to. oblige tiie
|^«b(^ttries to be' rc^sident two ata«ime in every a9ontb(
ttii4'be^4oiM'wM>^eeo|Hmrrenc« of Dr. Hlckvsy tbeil
ttotttiy iod^Dh Hoptiins, si wonby pi^bendary of tbef cbirrdi)
fAs£^dd'^#4tfap(Hlt' the 'foMt appearance ef uneasiness in anf
«M lii«ttibtfr of the society. The money, which at fotnet
Vliib|tidnA%as^usyal(y eapended ^m entertaining the bkbo^}
lia^rtleWd fe^ be-Md out in books for tbc^ library, and tmi
aiM»tgiin#d'|btt '^b«^ttfhf at his own charge; be was besides a
tlM^sldll#ab^1>eifefaMiirto the library, the boots about tilft
thMibetAfr bt*oi}gbt< from an inconvenient room err the sotitik
bide 0f'lh(S chui^y and placed in the chapter-bouse/a vet^
%(^gat)t room^ capable of- containing a noble collection 6{
^f^dkif. The blstop was often pre^^ent in the Consistory
cotfvt, ^hereby^be much prevented the frHrolous suitto, ank
expedited the di4ato¥y proceedings, which at that time wera
muefe 'Odnf ptainetd of. in 1683, arcbbisbop Sancroft wrott
tt'tettetf'to tb^bvshop, complaining ef a custom wbicfa tbdk
aMd for4iWny years a#ter continued^ of preaeMng Ib^ sdr^
moii in the body of tbv cathedral; the prayers being read ill
tile choir: tbe^rigin ef this costom wasi that as third waa
tio s^mon in the pariah ebnrcbes, «he several parishioners
might, after their own prayers, attend the sermon of som#
eonnemtpteaeher in tbe cathedrals fie was a< great patrod^
of thO French proteatants^ and contributed largely totb^
•apport. In l6iS7, when the king made his progjress tbfougft
part of England, tbe bishop aent his servant to Bath, to in-
vite bis majesty to bis palace at.Wbrceste/:, wiiere hd'had
the taenonr of entertaining bim on tbe 23d day of Augtls^
th6 eve of St. Bartholometr. He met him at the gattd oi
Jiis palace, attended by bis clergy, and in a shorts Latia
speech, welcomed bim to the eity. fii# msges^ waHiad
u 2
titm T H 0 ni li «.
at m^ caif; all aiMv«d.ilBtth:;Aow#f$>'ii^J? Yea(^il(/i(^
«s be went along, be Mdd|.^ My>fUM^ ibt» k»oli9 Uke White-
ti»lLr Haviiqf mfMshei^ 4ii9Mi& after^ M^jo^meiy , . hfi jiyent
to tee the 4»Kheilral^ tbefcloaQ'«lfcM)dtiig.iM$ Kti«j^y Mi^ilbr
ooUege gstr, froi&ivb^Dce^ w0iilil^/$6e ibei ^rip«i(i<MMf
Ike iHyvD, and, ataxMig tl^««8ty;«i«i9be«Ma,>¥i^€(C9fl^bj% b^lije
jvas fougbi Jbe»re«B> Oliver /and Jkis «<ljr#l :b«#l)^: **>ui i- .'
•The next mrning being the feaHt of<.$lt.,S^|h^4^«^ic^
the-'kiog weiHvta Uear maaa^ tlMS: papi|ibt.qbeMlaKb'i|))M*
iii«aooeMidn to ibe oro^Niy Q&^^ik^(fi^a$c^^fllMx¥^§!SfM^
mmetf attended by tfa^^mayoaatid aidtMaeni Yfkfmi Wbf^
tlieyi cametto the gM0;<rfl iIm ebapet^.ibt^ 9HU«^)iiaM|9|d4)if
tibej wouldnotf o ia iwifh hiqi ;{ Hoi i«bicb tbe^iUftj^ fii^l^
beMwi^g^piric refriied^ '^ Itbtiikfiir^iia«r9(a|l)w4ied.^Mr
Bftajetty too iar alfead{jr.M» ThiajvKortbf ^.umgistrft^ ^bo
f>fiefenred hisTeligiaay^atididtttjr loubaiKMUPtsyjy Mi^Wfy
other MBiidec«tton> shooU-faaMa hiatMine jr^pcNrdfidcJ^ffotr
ter0 of: geld c-Dn Hasti^ took pai*f Xm Sodi^mt^ Y^bOiit: «HPi9»
aaid beluEvedcft todbe eitbertTb9ui«i(9ea«ieiDoft.i:ir lib^ntM
Sharwia; tlie!fbiniw«ra»«lectod]by /tbe< iie^Vsf^d)^
latver by: the «oldi tbataer wMtoised^ Upon: ibia ^nf^^er. Bm4t
hy-the m9j6ri tbe kiQ^jwentiintd the popiah ^topft^ ta||d
$be Diayorv ^itb aUthe^preteicaiita wJliq atA«i)(i^d .bifpK.netot
%o'lbe eollege tdwroh,^ vnhere, wben dm^iS^i^iofi^.} 9*^
endedE, this bishop waited.ai .bi»\inaje«ty:'t*114i<H)«r<^me
in; and the ^eati^eing.teton tbe table be, 'OjSer^ M^^/ifyr
gtaee;-biit the>kiiig vni$ pleaaed to aay.tbat^m v(p94d:«^#
bim: that trouble, :& be ^ad aiohtplaintoftbm avvq^ ijip^
i^bioh theffoad^old oMUfr.aritbikew^: iiot,wkivH»A:lfWrs ii\ bia
ij^ear' As^Boo^'as'tbe'iliBficrwaa^weri'AliU.ii^^estjt^fjFi^
eeeded ia .hiaf>ffogreu te.Ladfew» jkariog i»^pME^^Bmi - bifiir
ielf weU'|>leaBafd With, the aatendanoetolotb^tgi^oMw^Ap .5^
^Wcoimiy, and his enaertaiaifliefil by- tb«* b}#b9M Yii^^fi^
lus lordriit]»^iaya.in afmaaeiaitliea t«i.a &iMdi.tj|^l) wiy
diargeable ^te. bini^ yethe did^notgfttdgeriif' ats ji§.4^f|i
be .bad done the ^hoaelraaiiieiCredktW'it« .llberwbit&Mqiifl
f. ^ . ')''j< j{
* Tbe kiog*g escape after the Je- ont his own horse ready saddled,^ upon
feat in this battle U thus rerated : hit yg^im As nrajesfy fled'lHroti^ Si iMf-
la^jesty beiag forctd'tft alight fhssl. ^lia^s.gaic^.aEiitf'av' I^JiM^Al^Ti^*
hisiiomlofpit jstoSi4b«ry>gate,.a|K|[ Tbomaf, when.d^.p4 JVorpfst^
a cry being made for a hcirse to Vje- married his eldest son to i. dnij^fer
monvlt the k%, a Mr. WiMtam 9ag. ol^hia Mr.' BifvAU - »' ^:il>. ^1
t fl %) M A S. t9i
tlie^ skkfrd leBtdfni^ttl tiM^gntat^liKUy «eit Us Iwi^ip ^t. : it
^ '' WiiMethe feing' wa^'li^ WiMWftiit^^t/tb^iieigbbottrin^ 4i»*
«ehe^»of ftH djdnlifoiiiMlmii'stetrdheir'iRikliresses t&<hkD^
WbieU the Mri df f^lyiAdotly$ hitim^^ lafd-dieiit«wiiit,:^wa*.y>
two first tlHi liiHg'Aihtd iiiw-^wiiat ireiigicm ibemen mho
iwmfgHt ^iheki'i^eht ^ *t ^.lU^^oedy ain," .replied ttmJosd^
tM^;lai«6%iMth^r^yt»«f;i^etigiga|'Qcnr qiiiiew>' But oow the
hhts kirt^:^tmi%t^d1:Uittf/ lMlshopGiitoUtikei>Qa^& ttiat ;bi» deoI»*
^^ £€M} <illtd^«27|(iri0i^thei^baid imoiV-afii in all ^Qtfaer
Cteij^b^ atUllbi^ekiitto Sifdi^nAiLbtk of, Jbh^ Tiie erob*
4iM)5p^^ild'^lc;4<Mi6p»* pN^eilt^d.a petittonagaitist.U;
cRiir cbifiii^u^li^e^t^ whicii i«a% ^ ib«t tbej ^were sf nt to the
^I^fii^; ^ifaUMvlrWb^a^mit g^ief ^^t^ ciio ftN«b«py> not ibat.fao
*«i^<idli^^^(bit>iiiiy'fau^64a-Miii»^lwm bia brethi-
^^efi', oV'A^l!bl^id4l«tm|ty tbatiiadlMefollflMihem, forbeoftoft
^isfacld't6A9 l|i«'i|ttd 4)0leo with theo^ . la boar his iirsbittOAjr
i^'^cx^gb^i d^a^vkstf ^fid toiimvmB„siaAjre wiibtbfiin io tbcte
1kMiWiiibl«' 800ctibg0^ bcit be iftM thiubkil tp tbink 0Q:tb«i;
1ftlf>^hdibg'«<Mit(,wbi«b^be fotssaivr^iQi tho choiobc
bbW^er^ iiJMi >he' aivd the deafi*(Drj Hiokea^ resolved Tiqt
;i4]^d4spe^e cbe^d€^l«nKtioi»^.«od 'dignified to ^^11 the dtrgy,
tA^: nti^r disUtte iif-'itw ^iBteii after ^e MC^i«ed « letter from
*tb\HtfiMiMi^i^'*^^'flspnmi^ obejpiqg the king^fl
OiiAers ; tbie^aMlWer'Vi^vidricbsviis^ as^ohieia^ witbMt
sifiy-tlritstiivei'trf fiottoisioe^ Jibt dediaratpry of bis finn:ne^
Vbluttoti lidtnoiboibpijftj u.Vpotfe img'WfiUiafBtfl acoeasiQiiy
JK^'ill btiiibh^'WiMlldYdol'aiUiMPV'haar^'aittead tl|e oonven^
iiad; .^Mfifidwd' 4)o aei^ ^Bfipfmed lof the prince of
lOmnge^b Vei%ii<eobMrodtkbig/>and nuicb lets of that act
Vbkb'*dbKge>IUl^ipef^iia^lati»keiOtttbs of allegiance H^
king William and queep Mary, or to forfeit their offices^
tfaiaif IivMig^^Vnd,ibeir Wmpor^l subsistence. .For his gWa
part, be #as» resolved to forsake. aU,.ratheir tbain actjco«K
txijy Xo bis forcoer oaths, and boo^age, which he had paid
to king Jaine8;:iADd«aUhoMgb j»e writer to KettIeweU> an4
9ajr8|. ^* If R>y heart do not deceife me, and God's gr^ae
«f 4 THOMAS.
4^ not^ h\\ mfif t think I coold suflRtr at a stake rather
dian tak({ tbb oath,** jret it doea not appear that lie aitfd
any persuasions to prdvent others from taking it, '\otfiy
freely gave his opinion, and advised tlrem sincerely to ttM-^
suit tbeiif own consciences. This was what he said to'the
elergy ; and when a grandson of his, Dr. William ThcV'*
Afasy of whom we shall /speak hereaftei^, theti a student iif
Trinity «dl^lege, Cambridge, consulted hitn on this erftibat
pdtnt, he left him to his own liberty, and thie^fedin'gs'<yf
hW own eenscience« In one of his sermons he s«ys,* -"Am*
Btimble man submits, suspects hfs own jtfdgment, lilith a*
l^nerable esteem for bis superiors; if startled by any cofnT-'
sfeitutions in church and state, he frequently prays) sen^iou^ly
fKscourses, modestly counsels with others'; if after ^lesif- .
pedients be remains dissatisfied, ifhe-caiinDt siftDtwichrh^
Stream, he will not trouble the waters." * / *
' The limited time for taking the oaths drawing n^at, he
prepared himself for leaving the pahce, and «nieathi|^' tbb'
see. He had agreed with Mr. Martin, then vtcai^ bif WM.;
i»erly, to come afnd live with him ; and fa^ wrote to {>r.'^tili'
lingfleet, telling him that he would use afi^his tntereit *tMM'
he might succeeci<him. White ' be was thiis preparing ' ilf
sbings for bis retirement, God was pleased t6 pr^p^e better
ht him, for, about the 20th of June, afker W't^ry sei^reflt tf
the gout, he grew contitiuaUy weaker and weaker/ tbon^k-
kk friends did not think htm in any immediate dangeyj-
The bishop, however, p^ceiving himself decaying; err
Stfnday the 23d, received the sacramene in his^own cbapieAv
4n Monday all his servants were called in^ tfnd*iie gav^
^ery one of them his blessing ; that uight hreendeavt>ured.
io sleep, but in vain ; his daughter-in-law, Mrs^ Annt^
't'-homas, sat up with him, and was much edified by hiln,'
fcPt the most part of that restless night be spent in cja^u}«^
liG^s, and prayer to God, that he would be pltesed to t€^
tease him from his miseries, and the troubles* of -Miis' vai^
#orld : there was no weight or clog on Ws conseienee'f'
death did not appear at all troublesome to him, tfae'stii^g^
was gone, his earnest desire wais to depart, ud 'be wii&'
Ohrist. Thus he passed the few remi^intng boors 6f b\9
Mfe, being senHible to the last; bul, growing still weak^t^-
arid weaker, about three o^clock the next day^ bel«>g «h*r
if^th, he patiently submitted to the stroke of 'death, iM A'
resigned bis spirit into the handa of God that gave ic " ' '
^-U^ died'-io 'the aeventy-sixtb year df Ws 4ge^ -and flSK-
T 1& O M i, a M4L
cpfcUng tQ IkU ^n 4|^piot|n^.at; liefti t](ii^;r^4<i4^iihie p^b-^tst
coHi^t of t^c^ojoi^lers q| Wpr^i^^tev ^^(f^tbe^r^lf ai tb«
bot(/9in of thp^t^ps.iif&r t)^e. agtuth, dooti being Used
to saj.Uisu )b^»c)4UJriqj;iiWiss.,£or. t^e livings ^^^ hot for the
deadr * pi^ ^^ueral was (;u:^dre4..bv. ,bi(n$e}f, as manj old
ia<^p goJ,Mg b^fo^e bis cQr.p9Q,,€;W,tWl in. black.. as corre«
9pp^4^!wj(h tbey^ar^.qC bisage wben he died. Tbe in<^
sQrjg(i^j9i:derie(}^Uy hijipse^f, wa$ agreeably to his ex^raor^
^io*ry .MmnUii*^i4..V D^positum, QuUeloai Thoinasy S. T, PI
c^^xl^Dqc^I ,Wigo|-^psis indigQi, postea Episcopi MincM
Tei^i|^.in4i§oiorM|,t{|ndeafi Episcopi Wigoriiiensis indigpia-»
^iff^f^ W^ri'^if t^fit^Q Cbris.ti.i:esurrectk)nis ad vitam sterw^
Q^^.x^f^^didati.'' , Siow^lJiiogjfartber was. added afterwards
kSr 44#tt. ,lSi<Jh«s^ w4 ^ .iparWei . ippauineot was plaoe<f
lyitbio; tbe.cbyrckby .bi^young^l.sony Mr. WiUiam Thomai
Qf: Hackney. ' ., ,
,j)yU.;i^ii^o|d.^t^t^;ifll9uaj^ to butSOO/. He left behind
Up^ t9JH9 ^^kh Jlpbn w4 William ^ atd iiveigvand-childi^^ji
fviy^y.biA d^gbti^r Elisabeth^ who married Mr« Jopathao
AndFe.Wb (9f.3arA^«-baU neiir Worcester, and one by hii
s<|f|. fTohm: vKb9 'fi^aft .tb& Wojocest^sbire antiquary, of wboin
Wft &b9M. Pf ^i^nidy; sp^
^« ^bli^b^d i^k^ iii^ life-tioey *^An Apoktgy for tbe
<;rJ^^ncb.pfJ;t)g^nd,,^67S-99" avQ. '^ A Sermon preached
;^ (^a^^ikiC^e^. A^izes^'' pointed to 1657. ^^ The Mam*-
n^K^ pf U^^bteoufi^spi,'' a. sermon preached at the cathe^
dkftl cbur.ixb of. W9rceater when be was in a.yery languisbiB^
stf^^^f >i9^>tjt)r Hisk << Letter to tbe Clergy r" and an im<«
l^feci.wfi^j^, ^titlj^d ^^ Roman Qracles silenced/' were
published after bis death. All. these shew bim to have
M^/^ tW^ bi^bop and industrions divine, but nob a writer
qI p^rtA4)r geniua;. bis style is barder and more antiquated
tb9^. tbfkl of mosit waiters of bis time ; but bis matter shewil
tbfPr sivaplioi^y and bmrnility q£ bis he;itrt ; for. meekness asd
i^ij^iQieAtftd tbunpiiity ^4re hi^ ehiel ornain^nts. These ^en^
dared bim peaceable avid. quiet, yifumit of contmdiciion^
a^ coi^tented in all conditions, tbe same eaay man when
ap^(ifest#red $» wben bishop ; and with the same easy tran-
qip^llifg/! a4id cheerfulness of mind he prepared to lay down^
bis^bisb^ipfric, aa in bis younger years be had done hia.
^If^rage^ • He waa never known to have been in a passion,
Wjl^n be was deitn of Woiicester, one pf the prebendaries
in«chapter fell into a sudden and violent emotion upon no
gre^t provocation, which made the d6an ^^y to bim^
a^e THOMAS.
which tb^ftOf^-genilMiaii DepHed, -^^Mil Pcltfl; MrJiDesiH
.Ood gir^ y^tt^iMre.fi^kro/f Tile gMA^ibaafiUlUIS^iio
xe]g\ff hut'hf a v^mite. lb* meniofy «i«m very good/ ftr
thougb^h^ p^Qntdl^i9.»^rinPD9^Hii»itb t^he^^dearaEcjTy yei4ie
ilwwyn delivered t^iem memcriUr. He fwairi«£ a tiaedre
■oibevHba^ ^H ^nd $lend^rf iof a loiigTi6iig9^::htf foteb^ad
brip, his o9|wt^4ime^riMsefuU aiMi his aipebti>vi8ii«v«bld
jbe co9D«titOitipii,of .:hi» body to ki^. yolniger ^eirn' wtn
«trong and b^lthful, tbMgh af leciiwdiil hm^ bmkeir^bif
{requeiu infirouti^i p^ma\%riy the' gout; t^ frequiEOii \kni
yioienit .iito of which be was ^objecfc for opvrardvdf fo«ir)«tid
twepty.yeara: apd -that, dittorder v<Hiid nnch soobd^iwre
brought him to an,<^, if it had not beefn cfaettted^ijr iiii
gi»at t^a^^ec^j^e^-aad rep^t|)d abftineiice. ^' 'i '*^^'^'- ^
, TUO^lA^ii (ViLUAM), boro in i&70, wm grandaeoi^tMi
the bisbpgai ^aiid only ac^ipr' John Thoono' and Mnry(Bi|^
^V d^i^ghtef to .Mn 90gnaU» n)«»tionediify<tfae txremdfaig
ai:tic^6..,rVYfi,Uian]i4/)h0rUed hot iitlleiVM) his gmiidatMi
H^.W^aa^edncaied .iit Westmin»ter«8oboolv<irDfii>»»bi^iici^''h%
.ijfdkel^ed.iQTrim^^ Cambridge, Jw^e^M^'^i€9i^
being, t^ysn ^venteea y^ars aid, as appeartLfc^ the aeoemib'
a£ aim^i>49as ill that coilegte. . Here/ he(/to6t ; insr •mauaer'a
degre^: :f^4i9on after ii»e»t into ordetfs^ lie bed tbe^iimg
of £xal in Warwickshire, given bimby theiiiitefeatraf ^onl
l^om^i]pj^ :to who8a:he.«es distantly nehrted ^«tlA%berslbanill
t^ iiaa^rXouQtyV he had a coo»iden»ble«0tAt^ a»>be<(bitt
Iib9wi^.^\th4. G^ i^ar Toddiiig!M» rndSiomihOMirl
iiakey^^^^ijm^jf; p^me: %o biip by.hia wjf^> thedatnir hy
..'C^ae^D^^^UfiwasweU disppteduc^hliqi and oiaidr'ftieny
]bq^i/f^^.aft^ihin|y hi»/g^n^ Itonfiag %>^eh
fbrmeriy her prec^to^^^ut hfedi^|iQ^t(ni^inuit^w^
j;i^sM)^:«t icoifit; rBei ijia^i^d r^^l^f^U^iifeaQyi^kl^) 4knly
idajB^^r of Qiporg^.Qa^r^ es(||^Aofr3|nitl^in,ihe!eDdnC9ru)f
%pl^f yi^bjMil^bm b©>haA* ^cMp^idi^bkiior^naei ' %»*«
h(^ IM^ a^iMp^i^ikx&iip^iyir -nipe-. daj^gh^ini'Mid ^e^'soai';
pf the latf^i^.on^ qnl^^u rvivfd M^- ah4mtf>eigbi ijtears^ -lind
cjied nntn^^iie^ vtf^jtbi? f^ga^^iiii^
P^, Tfho^as, W48j^ed^,|q gg.ip, Wjttfc#fltni^. ,iri»flbihir^^
qgljf did ,111 oj a }^ ajjd) Jim . ^Tj^ t^as-^^iiimenl^. ie >t|eiof«<i-
t<?r)t.i3>f.^ $^^9^oft« il^ t^a|K,€ity,J^y ?bij4mp^Hougbi.^ii:s^^
> Nafb'f Worct8^]^i;9|^iif^^^pa[-i«i|li«^4;^. Ox. vol. ^I,
T'H O fit A S. «T
hW detjMl»d&if!f AMfquftjCites'Piiomm' miliar Mtrlverne/'
fMBteCid^ IQM4 JiM«tiifiM of <'iBisgilllte'«l>W&r^ick8hire
imif Bi9^r BBdiiftwmseiils ^'Survey ^f theCft^edftiiebtirch
idi >^Koo«9eaf«rf'V^inrti^> t(i t^36 : to^'Ditgdale be macle
* tTlMnkQ^'goeariyrra^ '* «^
.^^iridfait ]r0bi|fpE^^yea|9^< niifTtely in 170CT, he travelled to
JS^ihf#ceiivdriiak^ ^uRhiwcp b<» ddAtmcted a partiisufar tnti^
mmcykiMi/Blii m^Jvkopf B^'itfi^toiii ^ he«^as wetl skilled in tire
^eirklmd liainv iMgwogeti^ 06 whi^eh be added the Prefvcb*
iMid Itidi«i&''{ fie:likefri9^nfiiide himself nva^er of the Saxon^
Ac€a8h<e.t tha^iimciiifioosaiei^y as*at pt^esenty when we have
#v|^d'.dhrtiatrffr5r^ nk^M gdOti^gfandtiiar v the former would
iti^ereavBiil JEtJctft gveat laboiiv, ais^ Dr. Naah^w one he made
himself for hi^ oamvuie^: whiefa <-cost him gr^ar pains: his-
4i9diBatH^^viQdeed» dirasiaibiaaiiig ;- as he hardly allowed htsi^
sjj^:! time ier* istnapy^hleacay oranMvsement. ti^'foUy in^
^ded^if Ptovidenceiiad spared bis life, to have pablished
t(h«(5Jlislory of 'Worce8terdh4re9 and with ' this ' view had
^reMfyexaaihied and- transcribed many of the registers
|)& (be ;i)iisliops, and the church of Worcester. To these
iihwifs > Dn. Nishv owns himself indebted, and says, he
sheidd beMgUy ungratefal if be* did not take* /every oppor-*
ta»ity of hekhroiwledging his obligations. He visited like-
Jml^)«^ry?ishur6fa in- the county about fifty years ago,
MhidHi^ogether wttte the eburch gatherings of old Habing-
ikiii,^were crf^gniait service to Dr. Nash, by expbining de<-
teittA avmsjaad aMf^eraied inscriptions : indeed the accoant
el tto^paiinedrgiass is chiefly taken from their MS& as it
is now, by time and other accidents, almost all broken, or
f<NideKdDkii!niMelli^ble, by the glaziers. He died July 26;
!J.fM»r:BgaRlsisty«eight, and is buried in the cloisters of
•^Woacestcvcatliedral, iiear his grandfather. '
V THOMA8SIN (Lewis)^ a learned French divine, was
^msAc^.iM, 1619, at Aix in Provenoe, of a good and
igditftit famiy^ and adihitied at the age of fourteen into
thfioeoBg#ega«ioft of the oratory, where he bad been edu-
ealedi -After teaching ethics in his congregation, and
phiksopiKf, be was appointed professor of divini^ at Sau«
miirymslifitwiduced in his school the method of treating
tkecdogfcal subjeets according to the scriptures, the fathers,
asukeoimciti* ^Beiog invited to Pans in 1654, he began
', ^ *^ Nasli't HJttory of W&rcesterfhi?*.
tat * T H O M;AtS.gi N.
t6 boU ooafetfMMs of fiosiiive >ibtplpgy mi thiumimay ol
St IVbgloirfef aqcoflding ta theflBieibbo^ be; hud ^dopU^dm
fl^uaHiTy 4ilicl oQotittueci ibe»iil^ 1668, •%% .wbi<^ time. ))i«r
»op0i\ioft and several, eminent prekte^. p^rfttnid^d him W
give tke fruilt of bi0 laboufft U) tbe public^ HeiCiooipiHwW
aod afterwards became so celebrated hy bia wqi)i% tktt^
|Mipe InomcDt XI. endeavoQced. to dravr .btsa* to ^itie«
wi^ an iBleQiiop of giving hm ^ «ardHiar$ ba^ and
iMkiDg use of biaulena; but tbe king q6 '¥r9i»^» rmffiieiA
that so leameda mail i^as^ oeceawry io Ins d«BHiioii«v ^Tiie
Freaab clergy gave hiia a pensioii af l^OQCK Uvjies^ . wjiikib
the poor always shamd with bioi-^ He iiaa oiild^ m<^e»t^
active, agreeable in his manners,! and very assiduous ia^ftl^
kU. panutiis. Ha died December. 2.^^ IW^ skff^dmf^en^^
saveoi iHJs principal works are: !« A<. large NHaalis0 on
*> Ecclesiastical Diaoiplioef" reprimed I72jf, d^y^ln* fek.kt
Ffieneb; of which be made. a Inatm ttaaalaaoii^ veprintied '
iTso ID 1706, 3 vol««iol . Thia work is. highly praised b$»
pciaoaa in ibe ' catbollc coaununiiy. 2. ^^ TJi^eoiogiml'
Dogmas," l6ao, 3. torn* foi. itk Latin. 8. '^ Tracm on ^lie
Siviaecffice, isro;. on the Feasta, 8ve^; <N»^ Fast^, 8vo^ Q»
TfutMand Falaeheod, $vo; oa A\mh ^^9 ooiU^Hdenad'Oii
Uaavy,> 8vo; .4. ^^ Tr. doi^niatique des Mpyens dwirOBfa'tfiii
servi daea tpm les ^ma pour maintenir Taail^. ditPJCg^ise^'V
1 703, 3 yoh^ 4lo« Tatbese may be addedy ^' DireotioaariiDa
sludying anditeaebiag pbilosopby in a Cbiisiitaa maiwAr^^.
8iro ; the sancie ^^ for the pnofane bistorkiaa)" Svasi ^ piaa
o£ tbeaaoie kinAior gsamnar or tba ilwigiiagesbW^ mfhitr
tion tot the Uol)p S^splures, 2 vols* Hwr ^^ AUniversfdr.
Hebaew GlossMy*'' . priaiied at ithe Loa«re^c|^97^^^EBiL;^^
f*'IHftaartaliaisi</on ;4lie Cottocils^'' 'mhMfh ]S^7y lii^l
4lo; ^^JMomotresaurle Grace,'' 1682, ^to^x.&Oo' jllis Life^t
wriUen by fadiec Border* is^pfft fixed to ists BbbireDrdbak
aaay.** .■•:., K^i.; : j
Iffeaipiia pktkisophfr^ waa born.ini hl^i iQ^iipiA Ammittm ?
Biiafaaiilyy ^ finglk^ o>rigini bad.ioi^il^en-fttliriedr ioj
New HaaqpsbtDe, at: the plaeei formeidyealledt Bum^Medi .-
aad^naw Goaoardt; aad posaeseed there 8itmfi;laiiid pcevtom i
#0 the war o£ the revolotion. Fik)bi bis HiAwoy bis-atkaaH|
^iott.f^peara to bair^ lasen directed toivwrda ri)^e«ttt«.i>f
aeigaaei. Tbfci Ailhiir aioae of bit ^ly efiM^amona^ a clant f
* Nic«roDy Tol. III. — Sensolt^i lias ItauMt lUustveflk— AforerL—Dlct, Hist. .
THOttfS O. N. in
fblrrlMt), M4llMi made «lifitpiMt progr^a it^ tbii bfmabi»f
sliriiy'tobe oble^ without aMMttnoe^ to cakubM and t<^
tjemi^ gmiibiMUyiibe phases of a«i eolifMe of ibe^Q. Ha
bad<baeii ^deatified to busiuesa $ but from tbe p^rfod of tbii
little etattt bi»'pa9^n forleamin]^ beeaoittarraMlibUiy ind
hi»49aiatd apply hkifts^M to iiotbf ng ban to U»favMrii« objwM
ofaibdyi 'H«fiWtefi4kdt(]^ie684»tt»^afDf. Willie aftar^
vr^Ytshr tbtEfie o# Oh Winthorp> at ibe oaHega of HavanI;
aisd tiaele^ ftot^^abW-maiiar howiado ooa^idawible prb^
>He "appmtf^, ^ow^ver, to^hat^ beetle oarfy atsquainied
^tih : mttlbnade^ Soon affce^tha iteadi of Mis "Wittier, bio
nyidtber eotitraot^d a second marriage^ Mritha/<^i»ai» wbo
tunned him away from her while yataobild; aod an u»eie^
wbb survived bis' fnth^t only i few aAOtufas^ aoarc^ly left
Uiffi' whevebn to M?e. He was tbtis^ in a very <early periody
launched into a world wbicb waaalmoit imkDawn«te iiiiad^
and k; became iiecetsai?y for bif» to acqitii^ tbebabit of
fe|itehi4tg and aatflng^ fdl: bitnaelf, and of li^ng 0a bis own*
acqtiirefheftii; **> My ideas/' said h<s to a faend^ << wera
not yei'fiiced'; otie aabedie succeeded another, aivd per^^-
bap» I >ibou)d bave acquired a babit of ii^eeisioA aad in^
cOfittianey^ pa«kapa I should ha^e lived poor and aoiserable
t<» tfaie endof oigrdaj^y If a vromati bad not loved me, if sfae^
had not given me Jiatateoce^ a babitalion> aad- an^mdepen^
daat fortikoe. itodka wife, or vatbev sbe took »«, at
ninleteflo yeas9 o# age»* I married tbe widows of ootooeli
iieife^ ^e' ditugbter e< the reiuerend Mr. A¥albery a mokt;
reapectabte olei^ym^u^ and onei ol^ the ^first iiibahiiCiant& of
R«oi&rd»^ Hb bad ^inade three '^Hoyaged lo^Sngbind^ isM
trusted with public business ; he was well informed, aud m
most lih«r4iMeSifi^dcd nian^ Hei heamly }a|^prov^ of tbe
cbifias»'^ fafied^ght^ dndbioMelf> united lour UMidaaod .
cMir desiMiest .' ^fa^it cxceUeiit i»af» was- situ:el[«ly ^aiasehed
to>^me; hedintpatsadi^ rstudies, i|e ^foriaed ^y tai*^^ »bA
my aJxtiMfieii arasi >fii avwy Tespee% ftbe'bappfostwhiehdtta-^
pwdlle-to eoaebivet/'^ '»• ^»' ■ '' ^* -• "•*>'
-'UudterestenreieraiBstaiicesMrittadvciw bim lionr bis peaces' '
firf setseaty and from 'the faroifrita<atitdiee'whldvprobab^
would have formed the chief occupation of bis Ufe, to maka
bimsK^^ oil ibt theatre of the great irorFd^ 1^ pari £br wMois.
Apparently 'he yrii not prepstrbd.'' AV tbe c6ihinencetB6p$
at ibe trmbleft dPAtti^ticvL^ which pTt!ce&eAwA brought toA'
ifhe war of the ifidepfeml^nce, llibrnpson, timn t^mitV
jemti of iige, wattisrtUed1>y^friend^bip'witb*tbe^bveh!ior't^
the prbifine^, nhd attmched to tbe ^vernni(eht. ^- ^bedrri^'
«iid DDitilMry «tnp1oyiiiet)t6, v^b wbttb, l!h«tfgb stAf yotmg;
h^ «vtis invested^ iiatoraltj^ drew hith to tbelroyali^^d^^}
and wh«/i iftie opporite party icqtnredtlfae^seelidant^b^Vfi
prevtnee^ be wm fereed to ^baiidon' hM^bM^) '<«cYid to s^^K
an asyiom at Boston^ theti t>dc6pt^ l^'lfccf'Eii^l^''trt^(ifli
It was'ioMitl tbr^end df th« tio^W df Kd^^!^ YTtrdf
that be tfecretly quitttKl' iitt babhkttbh, Wfi^'U^^Uffif'fitl
wife, ^tb a daughter, of trfroiti sbe' Iftd'tiiit^IaltyW^deli
deli^red: He^eVer agidn^awrtbeVoriiiirpftba^tb^U^
lo^d<5Mld ^om ftbe^ bad ^ttiftt* fittti f^eH^^da t^BVtlA
twenty years after, wb^' kbe niame* i6 tiYp W It^^ffiiibief i'^ft
Tbompson wa^ retr^Ved iHth d&t?6dti<Ar* lyf ^b^"^ c&ii^
nfiinder ifi dttief oP tbe Bt^tt^ army'; irn'd ii^l^d tp fillS i
regimenli for tbe service oftbe'ldHg.'^Bdttb^eV^i^ b^Wi
war baling dccasioned the evactnrtSdiy Ytf'fib^iityi^/i^^Bit
spfH^goF 1776, be tfaen tepkired t6%hj|f^ttd;^^iiB'iiil^ifi
beaf^of ittiportaot dispatches to kdveti^ehfS'^'l^tiH^n
soon atb<}atfed tbe eorrfidenee of the secftikkf}r ol'^ti^
thiT ci^totiiiesy aM ^oitie d^ys after Ms ^iVtf ifi^^i^M'Bg
Kiwi appomtcfd ^secfelkry of tbe prdvittce of iQ^giilf ^^ 3ri
gee vhi^h be Wextt esreneised: tie te^afii^ W^bjldbtt:
contieaeed fvith tfie offiere of the coloiilei.J '"^' '^^\ "-^'^ ']
DuHiig the iltilttK^n of the year l^tT, hia U^SlBy^m
nring'disordered/ he Went tb Baffi to' take^hirSeHtt^^^'" f "
there resufhed' bis; 'favourite pordtihs, ;^bd''bllrf^i^;^
iiitereniin^ set 6^ estperhneiits oir thfe ii<^Mn ^iffdWHk
bedieft. On bb reMrn to tolidbn ^6 cdfoiiiUbltJl^tl ^''f^
Aifti of tbem to-»r Joseph Siltikk;^Tid''frt^tliate^^
ttseMi to date tbe intimate IHendidii^ ^iii(£VUn^sd6si^ea'
between Mm *iitid the iilnstyibns president (^^tbejBte^ai^Sb-^
ciety of Lpndoti. In \tf% he was adikift<4d aiitelbb4)r'or'
the sdetety, tod he made, k) the sadie^j^eir, nit fiVsre:r.*t
perimettts on gnn-povMey. The reshltswhiebhii obtained:
grestly extdted bis cvriosit^, and raised me de^i^i oif_re^
pMtiVig tHe same expeiiments wit
^Aitftte(ngtHatt6ccasi6n to sfiidy atsb
•Hshitecture. •With^ttt^^ie'*^,*'^'^
wMt dii Voard Yh^ Vitti»vTt x^hi
T ti 0 VF ^O N.^ 301
I^e^pf^^se4 ,t^»t^,wUcU^r^fiq9pa^igtt. with ti^, jff^nA fleet frf
•»»4tiplx% -bis .^isjpfuripp^aiif , , ami »r^e*,tv]^ the^i oq, 4tfr
§ji^^)r.<,9fi^ii|>IP^ffMif^,,j^Hl^ the folMmg
Q^y^^^j^i,^^ p^blUljetJ, ,. Seeing appointed
-mi^\*fJ^i ^fi ^^f^ .«» ^ begif>^tig;.9f i^^.year 1789,
comfpandaiit. Tliis circumstance determined fai[n..>^Qvr0«.
VHfj^ t^,4ini?fi<^^jj»^?r^ yif\}i^ ^j^ ^^/nfiP|. ; . aft«l wjafii at
P|§fi<e|t9^Q; ^? W *PJW^^ of tb^iw-
Wftif^ gfj.t^ qftifiajr*. in jtbp^rpyal.aripy, ,theni.u|>dei; tbe 0«-
lf§p H^f M^tpfl«V^8P?^wl Jl^sli^r r Xbif P<>»V .wUh^ «fsia
|B?***%i?/?^W»«'^ 35f^t9nWiLsp^ily,;j 9^ g#ip^4 itsc«ri»..
W^S"?'^ i^i^d.i4Efii^Qft^i^.%t^j^ei^^W^^^ Ha-
8|?Hi?3L^ttt^. iib9^q|t^9^,of. the a|r«y*,^^/uriu#b^d w*
^ecpnpajMdeir^y^ Tiipmp*(3mspf.i?|i*t4ii ib^^pr^^g
of 1782 for New X^if}^, wh^p )i^ |i§if«gpi^4,t^e i;o|d;Miay^
?^> ,^a^4yj4f5»ftr6^^ tU.^4^iR^d^gftt
p«»5l/jwve4nf»ofl^^
ir • -•
Mt TB0Mf>80 9.
r
*ttdr>faei»o-lfarMNHU« BDMgbta obcaki fctllMM victiint>tf
their attachnieiit to the metropolMiui ctoaiilry^ tbeeemiKet^
iMitkiDi whidi febeif taoriiseip had tiesen^ed/ By^a adtoin
aet of the iegiBiatare an koooarable proviiion was snoored
to amnehmdredB of brave ofikeni^ notwttbtftanditi^ a jMFectjr
•fipofig oppoiiiioni wfaidh nendeeed thofSMite of idak MtfgKy-^
tialton ver^ doobtful ; and gerrersl €4riuwi bifrhtg ttien^
turned Thonopsbn in bit diapatcbes lai"aa officer ot- extra-
ordinary merit, the king, upoi tbit teoooimeiidaiioii) aiade
hin iiakm«]y though it if at but two years amee Itehadbtea
aaade Nent^nant^cotoneh
< Wbenr tbe American wiar tevminaied^ Tbdmpton- t<Ai>^
eitedto be employed wib bit regitaient *i» ttie Eaat lodiea^
but the^peaiee having oooifctidned tbereddoiion of tbit oorpf^ '
togetber ^aiiith dmt^sevttffal otber%'bie 'oboiined^ frotii tbe
king fiermiation to travel on tbe continent , * wb^e, » sttiiio*'
iated at be then atiU %«aa by tbe military patsien, be' hoped
ao find ani opportmiity of terring at a volunteer in- tbe
Austviaor araty' against the Tui^t. ^ I owe it to a beaief^
-ioent' Stvittity/' said be to bis biographer, ^ that i was
elf ed in tieMP of that martial folly. I met^ at the 'priHee
de KaiinitE'«i with a, bidy seventy years of age, ami. en w
4owed with 'great' senceaod knowledge; She was tber wife
elgisaerfcil de Bor^bansen; and the ^emperor Joiefib li.
often eaine to ^pendLthe evening with her. ^Tfaat -eireei-
leapt {lerson -ibtxied* an- fmaebmetit to me; she j^aveme
wise: «d Vices ; Mi^ imparted a new turn to. my^ideais, by
preteiittng ^of ase^ifl.*'per9pective otherspeciei of glory than
•that df ciMtqtieFfog in batttet.*^ • '
Otf qilftting £ii^and in the month of September 1783^
kelanded at'-Bbnlogite^' along with tfae'celdbratdd Gibboni
who .^deacvibes'^bim by tbrte vpitlieta'.frbich skew bow
quickly^' be bad been 'able to appreciate, him. He calls
•llith'^^tbeaoMkar,' phflosopfa^r/stateflman^TbohipsoR'.''' He
'afterwafda arrived at- Straaborg,- where the prince Maxi«
ittliian do Denx-Ponts, iiow^Iidctor of fia variety tbcsi mares^
chal du'^aatjiln the serrtce'of - France^ vms t» garrison;
cl^t priffcey ^co^mmarrdiiig tbe parade^ diccdvered aJonong
idbe tpectiuors anx>fieef in a foreign trntfornfi, motrnted on
a 'findEn^lsb horse; atid aceoart^ him ; Thompson infermefl
Irtm that be bad'jmrt been* employle^ in tbe Atoeriean war^
tibwpftikee^ pointing oiht to jjum several officers wbo snrv
fotindedhiiif^ ^^Tfaese ge^ttemefij^^^ said? he, ^ flferved^ih tb6
aame w&r, b^i against you. They belonged to tbe' royil
T H O M P & <& ir. 808
t
itrgiinent Beua-pcmtsy sdDt co cAmcriea tnider liuer eofnoiaiid
of^^be eoiMit deiiocbaaabi^aq." . .<
p Th% coiiters^ian became close and anittiat^d. Coionei
ThooipscMi, invited, in> ^eonsequenccy to *dtii6 with tbe
frntee^ feutid tberera number of French ofikers agaitiA
^rhoia ike bad fmight hi America. The convertation turned
ot^the^erents o£ that vrar.- The colonel setit lor his porN
foVtor^ whieb o^otained exact fAwnw of all the principal a*c^
tmns, o£'tke strong^places, of the siege», and an evceUent
eoUedticMi wi maps ; ^^veryone irecognized the places wherfe
events interesting to himself had happened* The conver>-
saibienftiasced' a^ grbat while, and they parted, promising to
see bne an ether again.' The prinde was an enthusiast iii
bb> prdlession^ ^and. passfouateiy^fond of instrnetion. Bte
kohrited^the eoloilel »^ict day* They resumed^ the e^nver'*^
satton of- th^''evefmSk^g''W«th die same^ ardour; and'wfa^n cba
IbraveHei) atf^kat^took bi^ 4eai^e,' the prhioe eaf;aged him t6
pissithreogh Mianich^ and ^avebimik letter of recommeni*
dfUtioD to^ his utroie* tile elector of Bavaria*. The season was
far aklva^ced, and be was in haste to arrive in Vienaa; Hk
ioteuded'to stop ab Munich t\vo or three daysatmost. ttt
remlNined itfikeiNi,iifi'd qml^ted^ not without regret, thatcity^,
wheve^tbe <te8talertonie$ of the favour of the sovereign, and
the pavtidlities tif the different classes of society,' baid bete
lifviaiied'tipon him^HKith that cordial frankness, which a9
emi»eotiydistingtii^es the Bavarian charaeter. At'Vren^
tia, in the san»e manner he met witb t^e most ftattetlin^
reception, and wis presented at court, and rn' the- first com^
panics. He spent there a part of the winrer;' and, team*
ing chat the wai^ against the Turks would* not take place,
he yiislded tO'the attraction of the reeoHeotibnts of Mtinicb^
mod passing through Veniee, where hestoppedipme Week^
ai>d thixiugh the Tyrol, be returned to th^t residence to«
wdrd the end of the winter of 1 784. Henflwrteceived ffoiii
the elector a positive invitation to enter into his setrice^
and instead of returfiing to Vienna, be sM oat for'London
with tbe intention ofsoliciting permission froofr the king ti^
accept the oflers of the elector palatine. Not only was^ thidi
favour granted him, but the. king joined to it an faRHiourabte
distinction, hy creating hhn a knight. He accordingly
returned to 9avaria ^r^Beftjamin' Thompson > and was 6ik
his arrival appointed colonel' of the horsey and' general
aid-d^»ca«ip lo^ttal^ sovereign who waiited to secure HH
Mrviceft ^ ....
304 THOMPSON.
Sir BQii}4o)io employed tbe four fimt years of his nbode
at Munich in acquiring the.poiitioal and stati^ticai know^
ledge' necessary for realising the plans which his philan-
thropy suggested to him for improving the condition of
tbc^ low^r orders. He. did not neglect in the mean time
his faVoui^ite stodie^i; and it was iu 1786, in ajc^urney to
Manheim^ that bemade his firstexperiinecHaon heat Po*-
Jitic^l and literary honours poured in upon bim during that
inlerval. In 1785 be was made, chamberlain of the.elec-
.tor, i^nd admitted a member of the academies of science of
Munich and Manheim. In 1786 he received from the king
of Poland the order of St. Stanislaus ; in 1787 be made a
journey io Pru^^^ia* during which he ivaa elee^ a member
x>f th^; a<^ad^nny of Berlin. In 1788 be was i^ppoiated* Mar
jorTgeQeral of cavalry and privy counselkn' of state. He
wvas placed, at the head of 0e war department^ and parti*
x^Jarly. charged with the execution of the plans which he
liad propoiieu fpr improving the stsne.o^' the Bavarian army.
At last, the foIIcMving y0?ii' (1789) ivitnessed ibeaccom^
plisbtneot of ^e Dunver^us prp}ects meditated during those
which preceded. The b/9U($e of iinltistry of Manheim was
established; th.e islands of Mulbao aear lilanheimy wbicb
iill: that time had bi^n nothing but a pestiiietitiaimomss,
•usel^sis for cultorcy. and perniciQu^ to ibe health of the in*
liabitantp of the city, were joined togetiher, surrounded by
a mquud and ditch, and transformed i^to a fertile gsrden>
eonsecrated tp the industry of tbe garrison* The tiffiie.es«
tablisbmeot of tbe military academy of Muiricb was found-
.ed; a scheme of military policy was formed to deliver the
eouatry from the n^meTous gangs a£. vagabonds, i>obbers,
and beggars, wbo infested it; schools of iad^wcy, beloogr
ing to evei'y regiment, were estabUsbed^ tp erilploy tbe
wives and cbildren of the soldjers; > veterinary school was
institmed^aild astud^of.ho^es provided fpr imprpyin^ ^
breed of tbe country, ^t the beginuingof 17,^. the boose
of industry at Munich, that fine establishmegost, wbicli the
eotint himself tms described at lengths in hi» essays, was
formed, fpr bettering the cbnditioii of the ppor^and men^
dicity was compile ly abolished : nor b9s it again made its
appearance in Bavaria,, siiK^p that me.m^ri4>Ie ^epoeh. Tbe
beautiful EngKsb garden pf Manieb W?s, begun; aed military
gardens establisbied in ail tb^.garrispniSv; The sovjex^gpn ex-
pressed bispbl^ation for th^se numerous; services^ by. con«r
ferring on sir Benjamin the rank of lieutenant* gene^l of bis'
armies, and giving him a regiment of artillery.
T H 0 M :P 8 O N. $05
In J 79 1 be WAS crated a couot of the holy Rocnaii em^
fiire, and honoured with the order pf the wbit^t €agl?« He
tempioycsd that year and the foUQwiog in completing hi$ pr(h-
jectf ) «nd ia removing the obstacles by which attempts ware
made to interrupt their progneais. This species of labaKr^
and the anxiety of miiid inseparable, from it, impaired bis
health to such a degree, that bis physicians declared ^at
bis life was in danger, unless he r^tlited, for some time,
from, business, and .had recourse to a change of qlimate. He
obtained pern^ission from the elector to take a journey into
Italy ; and before leaving him, communicated, in a de«-
tailed account, the principal results of his four years ad-
ministration, compared with the four years which bad pre*-
ceded his entrance into office*. After having travelled oyer
all Italy, and a part of Switzerland, he returned to B9^
Taria in the month q{ August 1794. He bad been. attacked
with a dangerous illness in Naples, iand his slow recovery
did not. permit him, to resume, on his return, the tranwi^'-
tion of the business of bis department, over which he con'-
tented* himself with exercising a general snperiutendaniQe.
He laboared in bis closet; and it was at this time that be
prepared the first five of the. essays which he published.
In the. month of September 1795 he returned to England,
after ^tt absence of more than eleven years. The prinQi^
pal object of his journey was to publish bis essliyd^ and to
direct the attention of the English nati(m towskrd the plan«
of public and domestic cBconomy whicb he had c<>nceiired
and reidized in Germany. Lord Pelbam was then aecref-
tai^ of state in Ireland. The count complied with bi^ in*-
vitation in the spring of 1796, and took that occasion o(
visiting that interesting country. He introdiM^ed, at Onh^
lin, sevieral important improvemeDts into the hoapitais aad
houses of industry, and. left thenemodelsof a number of
useful mechanical inventions. £very testim.aoy of honour
and grpttitude^ was lavished upon him in that oounliiy* The
royal academy of Ireland, the society for the encourage*
ment of arts and manufactures, both elected him an bonoi»
rary jnember ; and after having left the country, he re<f
ceived a letter of thanks from the grand jury of the county^
of Dublin, an official letter from the lord mayor of the city,
and one from the lord lieutenant of Ireland ; ail filled with
the most flattering expressions o£ esteem and of gratitude*
On his return to London he directed the alterations,
which had been adopted, on his recommeodatiou, in Ibf
Vol. XXIX. X
506 ' THOMPSON.
Foandling-hospital ; and he presented td the Board of agri-
culture several machinesi as models for imitation. Tiie
philanthropic activity which distinguished this epoch of his
life manifested itself in every form. It was at this time
be placed in the English and American funds, two sums of
1000/. sterling each, to establish a premium to be given
every two years to the author of the most useful discovery,
inade respectively in Europe or America, on light, or heat^
The premium is a gold medal worth J 500 francs, to be
adjudged in Europe by the royal society of London, and
in America by the academy of sciences of America.
Nothing seemed sufficient to withdraw him from these
tranquil and important occupations, when the events of war
called upon him to display bis military talents for the ser«
vice of his adopted country. General Moreau, having
crossed the Rhine, and defeated several bodies, of soldiers
who disputed with him its passage, advanced by.quicfc
marches to Bavaria. Count Rumford, on receiving this
intelligence, immediately set out to join the elector* His
arrival at Munich was eight days previous to the epoch
when the sovereign was called upon to quit his residence,
and to take refuge in Saxony. Rumford remained iu Mut-
nich with instructions from the elector to wait events,, and
to act according to the exigency of circumstances : they
were not long in requiring his interference. After/ the
battle of Freidberg, the Austrians, repulsed by the French|
fell back upon Munich : the gates of the city were shot
against them. They marched round it, passed the Inn by
the bridge, and posted themselves on the other side of the
river on a height which commanded the bridge and th^
tttwn. There they erected batteries, and firmly waited for
the French. In this situation, some inconsiderate transac-
tions which happened in Munich, were interpreted by the
Austrian general as an insult pointed against himself, and
he demanded an explanation of them from the council of
regency, threatening to order the town to be fired upon if
a single Frenchman entered the city. At this critical mo-^
ment the count made use of the eventual ,orders of the
elector, to take the command in chief of the Bavarian forces^
His firmness and presence of mind awed both parties;
neither the French nor the Austrians entered Munich ; and
that city escaped all the dangers with which it had beea
threatened. t . , . ■
po the return of the elector, the count was placed at the
THOMPSON. 807
laead of the department of the general police in Bavaria.
,The services wh^ch he rendered in that capacity, though
Jess brilliant than, military exploits, were not less valuable,
or less conspicuous. But the excessive labour to which his
zeal and activity betrayed him, the opposition which he
often experienced in the exercise of his office, again af«
fected his health to such a degree as threatened his life.
The elector, impressed with esteem and gratitude towards
him, wished not to allow him to sink under a labour too
severe for him^ and desired to find the means of procuring
him the repose which he required, without altogether de«
priving himself of his services : he appointed him his en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the court
6f London. But the rules of England not permitting a sub-
ject of the king to be accredited as. a foreign minister, the
count did not exercise that office, and continued to live
in England after his return in 1798 as a private individual.
It being reported in America that he had quitted Bavaria
for ever, the government of the United States addressed
to him, through the medium of the American ambassador
at London, a formal and official invitation to return to his
native country, where an honourable establishment was
destined for him. The offer was accompanied with the
most flattering assurances of consideration and confidence.
He replied, declaring at the same time his profound gra<»
titude for such a mark of esteem, ^^ That engagements,
rendered sacred and inviolable by great obligations, did
not permit him to dispose of himself in such a manner as to
be able to accept of the offer which was made to himg''
The historical society of Massachusets, on electing count
Rumford a megnber, communicated to him, by their pre-
sident, about the same time, their unanimous desire of
seeing him return to his own country, and take up his resi-^
dence among them. His answer, which is to be found in
the American papers of that time, was very much admired.
Toward the autumn of 1800, count Rumford went to
Scotland. The magistrates of Edinburgh paid him a visit
of ceremony ; gave a public dinner on his account, and to
these marks of distinction added the freedom of the city,
conceived in terms the most flattering. They consulted him
on the means of improving the existing charitable institu-
tions, and on the measures proper for abolishing mendicity.
The work was undertaken without loss of time, and that
great enterprize was finished in a few months with com-
X 2
•308 THOMPSON.
ptete success* The royal society of Edinburgh, and the
college of pbysicidns, elected him at the same time, ri^^'
spectively, an honorary member ; and the university be-
stowed upon him the degree of doctor of laws. During his
Irtay in that city he employed himself in superintending
the execution, in the great -establishment of Heriot^s hos-
pital, of improvements which he invented with regard to
the employment of fuel in the preparation of food ; and the
Inanagers, to shew their gratitude, sent him a silver box,
with a very flattering inscription, having on one of its sides
ft representation, in relief of gold, of the principal front of
the building to the improvement of which be had so emi-
nently contributed.
Count Rumford quitted England for the last time in the
month of May 1802, for Paris. He went that summer to
Munich, and returned to Parts in the winter. In the sum-
mer of 1 803, be made a tour of part of Switzerland and Ba^
varia with the widow of the celebrated Lavoisier, a woman
of highly cultivated mind and capacious understanding ;
whom shortly after their return to Paris he married ; but:
their union proved unhappy, and they at length separated,
the count retiring to a house at Auteuil, about four miles
ttbm Paris, where be passed the rest of bis days in philo*
sopbical pursuits and experiments, almost secluded from
the world ; for after the death of his worthy friend, the il-
lustrious Lagrange, he saw only his next-door neighbour,
the senator Lecouteux Caneleux, Mr. Underwood, the
member of the royal institution, who assisted him in the
experiments, and an old friend, Mr. Parker, a learned Ame-
rican. He ceased to attend the sittings of the National In-
stitute; but for the perpetual secretary Cuvier, he always
preserved the highest admiration and esteem. One object
of bis latter occupations was a work not finished, " On the
Nature and Effects of Order ;** which would probably have
been a valuable present to domestic society. No man in
all his habits had more the spirit of order : every thing was
chissed ; no object was ever allowed to remain an instant
out of its place the moment he had done with it ; and he
was never beyond his time in an appointment a single in-
stant. He was also latterly employed on a series of expe-
riments on the propagation of heat in solids. He had by
him several unpublished work#, particularly one of consi-
derable interest on Meteorolites, in which he demonstrated
that they came irom regions beyond the atmosphere of the
earth.
THOMPSON,
.309
* This very ingenious philosopher died August 21, 1814,
when on the eve of retiring to England. The literary pro.
dttctioBs of count Ruoiford have obtained a wide circula-
tion, having been trandlated* into various languages. His
papers in ihe '^ Philosophical Transactions," chiefly on mat-
ters connected with the object of his beneficent investiga-
tions, were rather distinguished for the useful application
€x£ which they were susceptible, than for their, number.
Among them are, 1. ^* Experiments on Gun-powder, with
a method of determining the velocity of projectiles, and the
forci^ of gun-powder.*' 2. ^'Experiments on Heat; by
which it is proved to pass more slowly through the Torri-
cellian vacuum, than through the air.*' 3. '< Experiments
on the production of dephlogisticated air (oxygen gas) by
different substances, exposed under water to the action oi
light." 4. " Experiments on the relative and absolute quan-
tities of moisture absorbed by difii»'ent substances^ employed
as garments." 5. '< Experiments on the communication of
heat in air." This memoir procured to the author the gcild
jnedal of the royal society. 6. <* The description of a pba*
tometer, and experiments on the relative quantity of light
furnished by different combustible substances, and their i^*-
lative prices." 7. ''Experiments on coloured shades, apd
the optical Ulusioos produced by the contrast of colours
actually present/* 8. " Experiments on the force of Gun-
powder, by which it. is proved that this force is at least
60fiQ0 times greater than the mew weight of the atmo-
sphere, and that it is probable that the force of gun-powder
(lepends chiefly on the el^ticity of the vapour of water.'*
9. " A letter to sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal So*
ciety, offering a capital of 1000/. sterling destined for a
fund ta furnish a premium every two years to the author
of the most useful discovery made in Europe with regard
to light or heat.*' 10. " Inquiries into the cause of heat
excited by frietien, &c. &o."
His only distinct publication was a series of detached
f' Essays, experimental, political, economical, and phiLo-
jopbical," which appeared at different times since 1796,
and now amount to eighteen, forming four octavo voliimes.
The c<H)teats are. Essay l. Account of ^n Establishment
lor tbe Poor at Munich^, together with a detail of vari<^s
public measures connectednvith that institution, which h^ave
been adopted and carried into effect, for putting ah end
to mendicity, and introducing order and useful industry
SID Thompson.'
among the more indigent of the inhabitants of Bayaria.'— «
2. Of the^ fundamental principles on which general estab*
lishments for the relief of the poor may be formed in a|l
countries. — 3. Of Food, and particularly of feeding the
poor. — 4. Of Chimney Fire-places, with proposals for im-
proving them to save fuel ; to render dwelling-houses more
comfortable and salubrious; and effectually to prevent
chimneys from smoking. — 5. A short account of several
Public Institutions lately formed in Bavaria.—^. On the!
Management of Fire, and the Economy of Fuel. — 7. Of
the Propagation of Heat in Fluids. — 8. Of the Propagation
of Heat in various substances, being an account of a num«<'
ber of new experiments made with a view to the investiga*
tion of the causes of the warmth of natural and artificial
clothing. (First published in the Phil. Transactions.) — 9« An
experimental inquiry concerning the Source of the Heat
which is excited by friction. — 10. On the construction of
Kitchen Fire-places, and Kitchen Utensils, together with re«
marks and observations relating to the various processes of
cookery, and proposals for improving that most useful art.
1 1. Supplementary observations concerning Chimney Fire-
places.—12. Observations concerning the Salubrity of
Warm Rooms in Cold Weather.— 13. Observations con*
cerning the Salubrity of Warm Bathing, and the principles
on which Warm Baths should be constructed.-— 14. Sup*
plementary observations relating to the management of
£res in closed Fire-places. — 15. Of the use of Steam as
a vehicle for transporting heat from one place to another.
— 16. Of the management of Light, in illuminations; to-
gether with an account of a neW portable lamp. — 17. An
inquiry concerning the source of the Light which is mani«-
fested in the combustion of inflammable bodies. — 18. Of
the excellent qualities of Coffee, and the art of making- it
in perfection. *
THOMPSON (Edward), a miscellaneous writer of no
great fame, was the son of a merchant at Hull, where he
was born about 1738. He was educated it Beverley, undel*
the Rev. Mr. Clarke, and thence removed to Hampstead,
under the care of Dr. Cox. He early embraced a mari-
time life, and in 1750 sailed on a voyage to Greenland.
In 1754 he was engaged' on board an Indiaman, and be*
* Memoirs published by his friend Pictet, «nd given in Baldwin's Literarv
Jpurpal.— Gtnt. Mag. vol. LXXXIV.
T H O M P S O N. 311
\
Qupe what is called ^'a guinea pig/' though othoraccountg
%ag that he went to the East Indies with sir Peter Dennis,
on bioarJ the Dorsetshire, and was in the memorable action
off Quiberon Bay. By his " Sailor's Letters," it appears that
he was at Madras, Ceylon, and Bengal. In 1759 he was en-
gaged in Uawke's celebrated jbattle with (!)onflans. His other
naval movements seem to have been of little importance ''^^
and on the peace in 1762 he became unemployed. He novr
wrptea licentious poem, celebrating the most remarkable
women of the town, which he published under the title of the
" Meretriciad," This seems to have been the means of in-
troducing him to the acquaintance of Churchill, with whoip
he boasts on many occasions tp have lived on terms of inti-
macy, and with whose principles, political and moral, he
appears to have been at perfect agreement. Of this, hi«
subsequent poems, "The Soldier,'- "The Courtezan," and
the "Demirep," afford sufficient proof. In 1765, he was
more laudably employed in soliciting parliament for an in^
crease of half-'pay for the lieutenants of the navy, an ap-^
plication which was attended with success.
In 1767 he published his "Sailor's Letters," 2 vols,
12mo, in which there are many particulars of his life, froo^
17^4 to 1759, told in a rambling and desultory manner,
lie afterwards edited the works of Oldham in 3 vols, and ior
1777, those of Paul Whitehead, in one vol. 4to, and of An-
drew Marvell, in 3 vols. 4to, none, of which add^d much ta
his reputation, either for judgment or correctness. WhcA
the war with France commenced, he was, in 177S, appoint??
ed to the command of the Hyeena, and was in Rodney'3
famous action off Cape St. Vincent, of which he is said to
h^ve brought home the intelligence; but this, and other ac-
counts of his progress, as related by his biographer, are
certainly erroneous. There was a capt. Thompson, of the
America, who brought home the news of Rodney's having-
captured a valuable Spanish convoy, but this -was capt/
3amuel Thonipson, a much older officer ; and as to Rodw
iiey's action off Cape St. Vincent, a reference to the Ga-?
z^tte will show that it was capt. Uvedale, of the Ajax, who
brought home that intelligence. We are told, which may
]be XMtrjcect, that be was soon afterwards appointed commpt-
dore of an expedition against Demerara, and afterwardu
* They might still have heea de- dered it a difficult matter to separate
tailed if we had not discovered sach tmth from error*
•aacciiracita in our auttiocitieB, as reo«
$i» T H O MP S O K.'
eonveyed home a fleet of merchantmen ftom St. Euatathim*
In 1785 he was appointed commander of the Grampus, and
tent to the coast of Africa, where he died on boanl of bis
ship, Jan. 17, 17S6. He was considered as a brave itnd
skilfol commander, and had that infallible test of merit, the
affection of, his crew. It must also be noticed to his ho-
nour that when he acquired some degree of opulence, he
with great alacrity and liberality repaid his obligations to
many persons who had before as»sted him. The most im-
partial of his biographers concludes with observing thai
^ the merits by which capt. Thompson will be best known
to posterity, are his sea songs, which are still on every
one's lips : more espe<iially those three beautiful and af*
fecting compositions, beginning <^ Loose every aaii to the
breeze,^' *^ The topsail shivers in the witid,** and '^ Behold
upon the gallant wave.*' ^
THOMPSON (WiLUAM), a scholar and poet of conai-
derable merit, is said to have been the second son of the rev.
Francis Thompson, B. D. of Queen's college, Oxford,* and
vicar of Brough in Westmoreland, who died August 31|
1735, aged seventy. His mother, who died two years after,
in the sixty-fiftb year of her age, was the widow of the
rev. Joseph Fisher, M. A. fellow of Queen's college, Ox^
ford, vicar of Brough, and archdeacon of Carlisle, by whom
she had no children. Our author was born probably in the
early part of the last century, but the year cannot be as*
eertained. ^ He was young, when in 1734 and 1736^ hi
wrote " Stella, Sive Amores, Tres LibrI," and ** Six Pas-
torals," none of which he thought it proper to include in
bis published works. In his poem, entitled ^^ Sickness,^*
he laments the want of a mother's tenderness, and a fit*
tfaer's eare ; but, as they died in advanced age, he could not
have lost them before he had attained at least his twentieth
year.
It was on the banks of the Eden, which runs near
Brougb, that ^^ bis prattling muse was first provoked to
numbers," and where, we may suppose, he wrote most of
those smaller pieces which he thought worthy of preserva-
tion. In these he frequently addresses an lanthe^ who was
probably a real mistress. At the usual age he went to
Queen's college, Oxford, and on February 26, 1738, took
the degree of master of arts. He afterwards became a fel-
. \ Censura Literaria, vol. ^V..— Biog. 0ram>
THOMPSON. SIS
low of bis college, antl succeeded to the livings of Soath
Weston and Hampton Poy(e, in Oxfordshire. > It waa pro^
babiy during his residence on his living that be publisbed
** Sickness,'* in 1746. The origin of this poem may be
found in a note subjoined to the fifth book, but much of it
must have been written just before publication, as be pays
tribute to the memory of Pope and Swift, who died abom
that time.
In 1751, he is said to have been an unsuccessful candid
date for the poetry professorship, against Hawkins. In
1756 he published ^*Gratitude,*Va poem, on ait occasion
which certainly required it from every true son of Oxford.
In the preceding year Henrietta Louisra, countess dowager
of Pomfret, daughter of John, baron Jeffrys of Wemm, and
relict of Thomas, first earl of Pomfret, prt^enled to the
university ntore than one hundred and thirty statues, &c;
which the earl*s father, William, baron of Lempster, had
purchased from the Arundel collection, and preserved at
bis seat at Eston Neston in Northamptonshire. On the
525th February, 1756, this lady received the thanks of the
university ; and the year fallowing, the university cele^
brated a public eiicosnia, on which occasion, ih an oration by
Mr. Thomas Warton, professor of poetry, she was again
complimented in the most public manner for ber noble and
generous benefaction. Besides Thompson, an anonymous
Oxonian offered a poetical tribute to ber liberality ; and in
IT60, Mr. Vivian, afterwards king^s professor o^ modem
history, published ^*A Poem on the Pomfret Statues.'*
Thompson's poem is added to the late collection, without,
it will perhaps be thought, adding much to his poetical re*
putation.
In 1757 he published two vdumes, or, as be quaintly
terms them, two tomes of poems, by subscription, with pre*
faces and notes which give us a very high idea of the ao*
thor's modesty, piety, and learning. He became afler*
>vvards dean of Rapboe in Ireland, where, it is presomed,
be died sometime before 1766 or 1767.
It has already been mentioned, in the life of bishop
Hall, that in' 1753 Thompson superintended the publica«
tion of an edition of the ^ Virgidemiamm.** To bis own
w>lumes of poems was added, <^ Gondibert and Bertba,*^ a
tn^edy, the subject taken from Darenapt's poem of
** Gondibert." This tragedy was written, he informs us,
when << he was an undergraduate in the university, as an
f 14 THOMPSON;
innocent relaxation from thbse severer and more useful
studies for which the college* where he had the benefit of
his education, is so deservedly distinguished.'' He re-
printed it with all its j-uvenile imperfections, but, although
it is not without individual passages of poetical beauty, it
has not dramatic form and consistency to entitle it to higher
praise. • >
Of Thompson's personal character, a very high opinion
may be deduced from the general tenour of his acknow-
ledged works. He appears to have been a man of warm
ailectioos in the relative duties of life